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"AOI understands that access to and affordability of healthcare is crucial to Oregonians. AOI actively supports legislation that looks at public private partnerships that addresses this key issue of Oregonians, even if it means opposing politically popular mandates.”
--Dennis Rea, President, H.T. Rea Farming Corp.
The Medical Liability Task Force of the Oregon Health Policy Board met last Wednesday, June 2.
Article by: Betsy Earls - June 9, 2010
The charter of the group is "to examine current state medical liability laws and policies, their impact on the cost and delivery of health care, and to develop a range of medical liability reform proposals for consideration by the Oregon Health Policy Board and the Oregon Legislature." The Oregon Health Policy Board charged the group with investigating the current medical liability system, and making a range of recommendations for state action. These recommendations are to be completed by October 1, at which point they will be presented to the OHPB. Further recommendations for legislative language are to be completed by January 1, 2011.
Committee members are as follows:
Michael Alexander, Co-chair, Salem attorney
Joe Siemienczuk, MD, Co-chair, CMO, Providence Medical Group
Rick Bennett, AARP Government Relations
Peter Bernardo, President, Oregon Medical Association
Jeff Bildstein, Western Litigation, Inc
Janet Billups, OHSU attorney
Jim Dameron, Executive Director, Oregon Patient Safety Commission
Craig Fausel, MD, President & CEO, The Oregon Clinic
Scott Gallant, Gallant Policy Advisors
Robert Holland, MD, Grant County Medical Examiner
Josephine Mooney, Attorney & Director of Risk Management, Sacred Heart Medical Center
Laura Potter, District Executive Director, American Cancer Society
Christoffer Poulsen, DO, Eugene Emergency Physicians, Sacred Heart Medical Center
Mark Stevenson, President & CEO, Capital Pacific Bank
Lawrence Wobbrock, Portland Attorney
The committee decided to begin their work by examining the question of whether the current medical liability system increases the costs of health care out of proportion to its benefits to patients and others. Discussion focused on the fact that although previous discussions have focused on caps on non-economic damages, [the OHPB] has urged them to explore other concepts such as prescreening panels, health courts, safe harbors, and disclosure and offer programs.
The group intends to meet twice monthly through September, and plans to give a report to the OHPB at its October meeting.
