Congressman Gaetz on Lawsuits Against Health Insurance Providers

two gates a member of the Judiciary Committee general is recognized for two minutes I thank the gentleman for yielding today in the Congress too many Republicans and Democrats are obsessed with health insurance often at the expense of the reforms that could reduce the cost of health care if we cut the cost of health care we make solutions far more attainable for affordable coverage I support this tort reform legislation because it will make health care in America more accessible and less expensive defensive medicine costs

Americans over eight billion dollars common-sense reform will eliminate these costs help patients afford health care all while reducing the federal deficit it's no surprise that defensive medicine cost so much one survey recently reported that 93 percent of doctors practice defensive medicine due to a broken tort system it's outrageous that we force doctors to subject patients too costly unnecessary and occasionally harmful tests just to avoid frivolous

lawsuits let's go back to performing medical tests when needed for the patient not to simply avoid exposure in litigation for insurance companies this will lower health care costs the New England Journal of Medicine found that one in every 14 doctors get sued each year an earlier Harvard study revealed that 40% of these malpractice suits were groundless yet over a quarter of these frivolous cases are settled and the average payout was $300,000 groundless

cases overburden our legal system making it harder for people with legitimate grievances to have their day in court frivolous claims drive up the cost of insurance for all health care providers driving many physicians away from the health care profession we need more doctors and hospitals not less and without reform we get higher costs fewer doctors a larger federal deficit and worse health care outcomes let's pass this bill and start delivering on more accessible health care to the American

people I yield