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Health care reform should improve safety, not restrict rights of patients |
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010 |
Washington, DC—AAJ - As President Obama and Congressional leaders prepare for tomorrow’s health care summit, the American Association for Justice (AAJ) is today reminding lawmakers to remember the 98,000 patients killed every year by preventable medical errors and how restricting their legal rights will not fix America’s broken health care system.
“Opponents of reform have repeatedly attacked injured patients and used the malpractice issue to hijack the health care debate,” said AAJ President Anthony Tarricone. “If health care reform makes medicine safer, then fewer patients will need legal recourse – a win for everyone. But it is unconscionable to tell injured patients that they should be left with no recourse if injured through no fault of their own.”
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ATRA’s “Hellholes”: Bankrolled by Insurance, Tobacco, Big Pharma |
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 |
Washington, DC - AAJ —The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) today peddled its debunked and recycled “Hellholes” annual report – an effort bankrolled by insurance, tobacco, and drug companies to attack the civil justice system and gain complete immunity for their negligent behavior.
“For years, the most deceitful and predatory corporations have used front groups like ATRA to prevent everyday Americans from receiving justice,” said American Association for Justice Communications Director Ray De Lorenzi. “As our country emerges from this current financial crisis, people realize more than ever why a strong civil justice system is needed to hold wrongdoers accountable. ATRA’s report is yet another indication that corporations will say or do anything to weaken Americans’ basic legal protections.”
ATRA has been funded by corporate giants such as Philip Morris,
Dow Chemical, Exxon, General Electric, Aetna, Geico, State Farm,
Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Nationwide
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Report: State Tort Reforms Don't Lower Premiums For Doctors or Patients |
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Thursday, December 10, 2009 |
Insurance company profits 24% higher in states with severe restrictions on patients' rights
Washington, DC-AAJ —State tort reforms have provided a boon to insurance companies, leading to record profits while physician and patient premiums continue to skyrocket.
An analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and company annual statements shows malpractice insurer profits are 24 percent higher in states with caps. In these cap states, insurers took in 3.5 times more in premiums than they paid out in 2008. In contrast, insurers in states without caps took in just over twice what they paid in claims.
The findings also show absolutely no correlation between the cost of malpractice premiums and health insurance premiums.
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New Data Shows Tort Law Changes Won't Reduce Malpractice Premiums |
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009 |
Insurance companies lobby to limit patients' legal
rights, yet never pass savings onto physicians or
consumers
Washington, DC- AAJ - Tort law changes have failed to reduce
malpractice insurance costs, and states with caps on damages often have higher
premiums than states without caps, according to an analysis of just-released
liability data.
While insurance companies have claimed tort law changes would
lower physicians' premiums, this has not been the case. There is either no
difference in rates between cap and non-cap states, or cap states actually have
higher premiums - underscoring how a state's liability laws play no role in
lowering insurance or overall health care costs. Doctors' premiums rise and
fall based on the insurance cycle, totally unrelated to the legal
system.
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Report Details Corporations that Skirt Responsibility and Shun Consumer Safety to Save Money |
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 |
Washington, DC—AJJ - As the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform holds their annual summit – an event dedicated to championing corporate misconduct and evading accountability – a new report released today details true stories of corporations that knew their products were dangerous, yet failed to act and protect consumers.
“They Knew and Failed To” details numerous examples of medical devices, prescription drugs, and other consumer products that remained on the market after critical safety concerns had been raised within the company, while using all means necessary to avoid being held accountable for their misconduct.
In one example, police officer Tony Zeppetella of Oceanside, Calif. had
paid $313 to “upgrade” his standard bullet proof vest.
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