Pelosi Health Care Bill Blows a Kiss to Trial Lawyers(Prohibits state from limiting attorney's fees)

breitbart ^ | 10/30/09

[bestintxas]

The health care bill recently unveiled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over 1,900 pages for a reason. It is much easier to dispense goodies to favored interest groups if they are surrounded by a lot of legislative legalese. For example, check out this juicy morsel to the trial lawyers (page 1431-1433 of the bill):

Section 2531, entitled “Medical Liability Alternatives,” establishes an incentive program for states to adopt and implement alternatives to medical liability litigation. [But]…… a state is not eligible for the incentive payments if that state puts a law on the books that limits attorneys’ fees or imposes caps on damages.

So, you can’t try to seek alternatives to lawsuits if you’ve actually done something to implement alternatives to lawsuits. Brilliant! The trial lawyers must be very happy today!

While there is debate over the details, it is clear that medical malpractive lawsuits have some impact on driving health care costs higher. There are likely a number of procedures that are done simply as a defense against future possible litigation. Recall this from the Washington Post:

“Lawmakers could save as much as $54 billion over the next decade by imposing an array of new limits on medical malpractice lawsuits, congressional budget analysts said today — a substantial sum that could help cover the cost of President Obama’s overhaul of the nation’s health system. New research shows that legal reforms would not only lower malpractice insurance premiums for medical providers, but would also spur providers to save money by ordering fewer tests and procedures aimed primarily at defending their decisions in court, Douglas Elmendorf, director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, wrote in a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).”

Stay tuned. There certainly many more terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad provisions in this massive bill.

[bestintxas]

Now we know why closed doors were required to write the provisions.

[cajungirl]

what about the states that already have caps on damages and arbitration panels?

[IrishCatholic]

Does anyone still believe it was ever about saving money?

[Mrs.Z]

Texas went to lots of trouble to get tort reform...

and we have had lots of physicians migrate here...

and now these a**holes are going to bring the ambulance chasers back.

[a fool in paradise]

Well at least John O’Quinn, a man who made billions on breast implant and tobacco lawsuits, won’t be able use more State money to fund the DNC:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2373841/posts
Attorney (John) O’Quinn killed in car wreck
Houston Chronicle ^ | October 29, 2009 | DALE LEZON

[MotorCityBuck]

How ever did this get past the Pay Czar? :)

[a fool in paradise]

a state is not eligible for the incentive payments if that state puts a law on the books that limits attorneys’ fees or imposes caps on damages.

The Democrats know where their campaign funds come from. Since some of these cases are made by the state, with connected parties collecting billions; why shouldn't their salaries be capped as CEOs are?

Nancy Pelosi, YOU LIE. You do NOT oversee the most ethical Congress in history. Resign NOW, lying crooked witch.

[a fool in paradise]

All animals are equal. Some are more equal than others down on the Animal Farm.

Billion dollar salaries are bad, except when they are earned by Democrat donors.

[HiTech RedNeck]

They won’t be able to mess with Texas — only to cheat Texas.

[jwparkerjr]

I don't think we've even started to understand the damage the 2008 elections did to America as we know it. It is going to be a full time job keeping up with what this Congress, White House and bevy of czars will be trying to get done before the electorate catches on to them. Of course some of the electorate shares Obama’s vision of a socialist utopia and it won't matter what he does. The ones that really anger me are the really dumb ones who bought into his rhetoric, his skin color and coupled that with their hatred of Bush. Right up there with them is the MSM who spent nine year ripping Bush to pieces and helping convince the masses that America's problems were his fault and that Obama was just the man to fix them.

Talk about buyer's remorse. Look at the markets today. I am starting to think that many of those who play that game really don't have any idea what they're doing and just follow the crowd.

I think a lot of people who voted for Obama had been convinced by the MSM and the Left that things couldn't get any worse. Man are they in for a surprise! Sadly they will not take it out on Obama or the Left, but will likely fall for the dodge that it's Bush's fault.

[MotorCityBuck]

;)

[MrB]

I’m betting the language is such that it overrides state laws on those issues.

If this doesn’t cause state level nullification, I’m not sure what will get them off their duffs to do so.

These elitist bastids are pushing for a new War of Independence. I’m not sure if they are doing it on purpose, or just think that everyone is going to roll over for them.

[Erik Latranyi]

I don't think we've even started to understand the damage the 2008 elections did to America as we know it. It is going to be a full time job keeping up with what this Congress, White House and bevy of czars will be trying to get done before the electorate catches on to them.

Absolutely! We also didn't know the full damage inflicted by the Clinton Administration until after 9/11 opened our eyes.

And there are still Freepers who think allowing a liberal to get into office is more acceptable than voting for a RINO.

[rod1]

Oh my.

[Blood of Tyrants]

They are penalized.

[Red Badger]

This is bordering on unconstitutional states rights....................as if they gave a damn................

[kcvl]

bttt

[Red Badger]

left out: infringement of.................

[Racer1]

Never did. Its about buying votes and selling insurance.

[a_screen_name]

Pelosi Health Care Bill Blows a Kiss to Trial Lawyers(Prohibits state from limiting attorney's fees)
There, fixed it.