Political battles over malpractice reform have recurred for 35 years, starting at the state level. Many states have enacted caps on awards and other tort reforms amid liability insurance crises proclaimed in the mid-1970s, mid-1980s, and early 2000s. Since the mid-1990s, Republicans have unsuccessfully sought similar malpractice limits at the federal level. Sharp run-ups in claims rates precede...

Qualified immunity from civil liability exists for acts of disaster mental health (DMH) practitioners responding to disasters or acts of terrorism. This article reviews current legal regimens dictating civil liability for potentially wrongful acts of DMH professionals and volunteers responding to disasters. Criteria are proposed to inform determinations of civil liability for DMH workers in dis...

Qualified immunity from civil liability exists for acts of disaster mental health (DMH) practitioners responding to disasters or acts of terrorism. This article reviews current legal regimens dictating civil liability for potentially wrongful acts of DMH professionals and volunteers responding to disasters. Criteria are proposed to inform determinations of civil liability for DMH workers in dis...

• • The views expressed in this report are those of the authors. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The report synthesizes the evidence and theoretical predictions regarding the potential of several leading medical malpractice reform ideas to positively affect the performance of the medical liability system and its impact on health care delivery. For most reforms, the report analyzes evidence from well‐designed...

LU ST R A TI O N B Y E LI ZA B ET H L A D A W ith medical malpractice insurance premiums rising sharply across the nation and at least a dozen states facing an insurance crisis, physicians and policymakers are debating vigorously how best to respond. Tort reforms that would cap awards are among the proposals and have proven effective at moderating premiums in several states. [See “Understanding...

Currently, much of the discussion centers on possibilities for insurance mandates, a public insurance plan modeled after Medicare, and the methods that will be used to control costs.1 Many other issues will have to be addressed, including physician payment reform, the future of Medicare Advantage, providers’ participation in public programs, the role of expansions of Medicaid, and of course, th...