Sen. Alan Hays (R-Fla.) and Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.) have introduced legislation that aims to replace the current malpractice litigation system and eliminate up to $40 billion of medically unnecessary medical costs in Florida each year, according to a Patients for Fair Compensation release.
Senate Bill 1588/House Bill 1233 is modeled after the state's Workers' Compensation System and is designed to discourage the practice of defensive medicine while optimizing quality healthcare. Specifically, the proposed legislation would enact the following:
• Utilize a no-fault, state-driven approach modeled after the Workers' Compensation System.
• Lower healthcare costs by reducing the incidence of unnecessary tests and procedures currently ordered by healthcare providers seeking to protect themselves from potential lawsuits.
• Improve quality of patient medical care by establishing a system that realigns incentives toward patient safety and a reduction in medical errors, while assuring all patient complaints are heard and quickly resolved. The system also would ensure more patients are fairly compensated.
Senate Bill 1588/House Bill 1233 is modeled after the state's Workers' Compensation System and is designed to discourage the practice of defensive medicine while optimizing quality healthcare. Specifically, the proposed legislation would enact the following:
• Utilize a no-fault, state-driven approach modeled after the Workers' Compensation System.
• Lower healthcare costs by reducing the incidence of unnecessary tests and procedures currently ordered by healthcare providers seeking to protect themselves from potential lawsuits.
• Improve quality of patient medical care by establishing a system that realigns incentives toward patient safety and a reduction in medical errors, while assuring all patient complaints are heard and quickly resolved. The system also would ensure more patients are fairly compensated.
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