Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse of Central Texas

American Medical News
November 9, 2009

Some Texas physicians joined a local watchdog group in highlighting the positive impact of recent medical liability reforms as part of Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week Oct. 5-9.

The Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse of Central Texas said the 2003 reforms, which center around a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in medical liability cases, have helped attract a record 10,000 new physicians to the state and increased access to care.

Some doctors testified that the reforms have saved patients from having to travel hours away from rural areas to find care.

Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement that the changes helped curb the kind of excessive litigation that drove up the cost of physicians' liability insurance premiums and made it difficult for doctors to continue practicing. Now, "many doctors are back in business," he said, thanks to "one of the most sweeping tort reforms in the nation."