Here are seven things to know.
1. Republican lawmakers proposed a bill setting limits for medical malpractice lawsuits, as well as lawsuits for injuries caused by defective drugs or medical devices, according to the report.
2. The limits in the bill address lawsuits involving low-income people and older Americans with coverage through Medicare, Medicaid or a private subsidized health plan under the ACA, reports NYT.
3. Under the bill, there would be a $250,000 limit on “noneconomic damages” such as compensation for pain and suffering, as well as a limit on claims related to coverage provided “via a federal program, subsidy or tax benefit,” according to the report. However, patients would still be able to get economic damages for medical expenses or lost earnings, the report states.
4. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in the report the bill would help curb “frivolous lawsuits that unnecessarily drive up healthcare costs.”
5. The NYT cites an estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which projects the bill would decrease federal budget deficits by nearly $50 billion over a decade.
6. This is partly because physicians would not use as many diagnostic tests and other services they perform to help avoid lawsuits, according to the report.
7. However, Democrats and plaintiffs’ attorneys contend low-income people and older Americans who receive ACA subsidies would have less litigation rights under the bill, reports NYT.
For more on this story, read Robert Pear’s full report here.
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