Connecticut physicians expressed outrage Tuesday over a change in the state’s proposed sweeping health care reform law that removes medical liability protection for doctors.
The Connecticut State Medical Society, the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said Tuesday that the legislature’s public health committee has removed critical medical liability protection from the SustiNet legislation, which will hamper the industry’s ability to participate in the reform efforts.
“For three years, physicians have worked closely with advocates to craft SustiNet legislation that would increase access to medical care for Connecticut patients,” said Dr. David S. Katz, president of the Connecticut State Medical Society. “At every step along the way, lawmakers have ignored a major issue that is driving our physician shortage and increasing wait times at offices across our state: medical liability. We have been very clear that if physicians in the program are required to adhere to special guidelines – which physicians must be part of developing – they also have to be afforded medical liability protection.”
Currently, physicians employed by the state and the federal government as well as in federally qualified health centers have certain liability protections not afforded to privately practicing physicians who provide the majority of patient care in Connecticut. The Sustinet law originally provided more protections for Connecticut doctors, but industry officials say that language has been removed.
“Removing the „safe harbor‟ for physicians who participate in SustiNet is an incredible barrier to having primary-care physicians participate,” said Dr. Robert McLean, governor of ACP in Connecticut. “Without an adequate supply of physicians willing to see this expanded pool of patients, our patients are the ones who will suffer, with longer wait times and less choice of physicians.”
