Medical students can be involved in ACOG Government Relations Activities to voice their opinions and strengthen ACOG's influence on Capitol Hill. Go to Governmental Relations and Outreach for more information.
Doctors for Medical Liability Reform (DMLR) is a coalition of 230,000 practicing medical specialists dedicated to protecting patients' access to healthcare by promoting the passage of federal legislation to put a cap on non-economic damages awarded in medical liability cases. DMLR's membership includes:
- Neurosurgeons to Preserve Health Care Access
- American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American College of Emergency Physicians
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American College of Surgeons
- Professional Association Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- American College of Cardiology
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Association National Association of Spine Specialists
- American Urological Association
The Issue - Escalating jury awards and the high cost of defending against lawsuits, even frivolous ones, are driving medical liability insurance premium increases nationwide, with devastating results for millions of Americans. Skyrocketing medical liability insurance premiums are forcing doctors to limit services, retire early, or move their practice to a state with liability reforms in place, creating vast areas across America where patients no longer have access to critical healthcare services. The American Medical Association has identified 19 states currently experiencing an access-to-care crisis. Of the remaining states, 25 have the potential to be deemed in crisis. Only six states: California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, New Mexico and Wisconsin, are considered stable; the common denominator is that all six have instituted some type of reform. The Initiative The DMLR's Protect Patients Now initiative seeks to educate and inform patients, physicians, business leaders and legislators about the destructive effects of this to our nation's healthcare and our national economy. States that are facing serious healthcare and economic crises will be highlighted throughout the initiative.
For More Information: DMLR Press Office, (703) 299-0557, dmlr@protectpatientsnow.org.
Doctors for Medical Liability Reform (DMLR) can be found online at www.protectpatientsnow.org.
Universal health care is a legislative priority for the College. Of the nearly 44 million uninsured Americans, almost half are women. These women are less likely than insured women to receive preventive care or early intervention, and are more likely to lack access to needed medications. The resources listed below can help you to learn about ways to address this problem. They are for information purposes only. Referral to these sources and sites does not imply the endorsement of ACOG. These lists are not meant to be comprehensive. The exclusion of a source or site does not reflect the quality of that source or site. Please note that sites and URLs are subject to change without notice.
Alliance for Health Care Reform
www.allhealth.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
To find out where patients can get a free or low-cost mammogram and Pap test go to www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/contacts.htm or call 1-888-842-6355 (select option 7).
Center for Health Care Strategies
www.chcs.org
The Commonwealth Fund
www.cmwf.org
Families USA
www.familiesusa.org
Georgetown University Institute for Health Care Research & Policy
www.healthinsuranceinfo.net
Institute of Medicine
www.iom.edu
Kaiser Family Foundation
www.kff.org
www.statehealthfacts.kff.org
Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
www.kff.org/about/kcmu.cfm
National Academy of State Health Policy
www.nashp.org
Office of Family Planning - Title X providers
opa.osophs.dhhs.gov/titlex/ofp-service-grantees-listing.html
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
www.rwjf.org
www.covertheuninsured.com
The Urban Institute
www.urban.org
Publications
The Commonwealth Fund
Small But Significant Steps to Help the Uninsured (January 2003)
Families USA
Going without Health Insurance: Nearly One in Three Non-Elderly American (March 2003)
Institute of Medicine
Coverage Matters: Insurance and Health Care (2001)
Health Insurance is a Family Matter (2002)
Care without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late (2002)
A Shared Destiny: Community Effects of Uninsurance (2003)
Hidden Costs, Value Lost: Uninsurance in America (2003)
Insuring America's Health: Principles and Recommendations (2004)
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Lack of Coverage: A Long-Term Problem for Most Uninsured (Jan 2003)
Who Pays and How Much? The Cost of Caring for the Uninsured (Feb 2003)
Health Insurance Coverage in America: 2002 Data Update (December 2003)
The Uninsured and Their Access to Health Care Dec 2003)
Where is the Growth in the Uninsured Population Coming From? (March 2003)
State Estimates of Health Insurance Coverage of Women, Ages 18-64, 2000-2001 (April 2003)
Covering the Uninsured: How Much would it Cost (June 2003)
The Cost of Not Covering the Uninsured: Project Highlights (June 2003)
The Urban Institute
Federalism and Health Policy (2003)