John Ensign: “I wish to make a few opening comments on the medical liability bill. Last year we had a debate in the Senate on…”

“I wish to make a few opening comments on the medical liability bill. Last year we had a debate in the Senate on proceeding--not voting on but proceeding--to an overall medical liability reform bill. That vote was 49 to 48 in favor of going to the bill. Unfortunately, the rules of the Senate provide that one needs 60 votes. Otherwise, a filibuster, as it is commonly referred to, is continued. You cannot proceed to debating the legislation or to votes or amendments. There are currently 19 States, according to the American Medical Association, that are in crisis. Nineteen States are experiencing some kind of crisis with their medical system because of problems with medical liability insurance. All but 5 States of the remaining are showing some problems, the type of problems that have led to those 19 States being in crisis. We had the vote last year and couldn't get it done. Senator Gregg and I have introduced the bill before us today, the Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Medical Care Act. This bill limits the scope of reform of the medical liability system to the practice of obstetrics and gynecology and the doctors involved in those practices. Using my own State as an example, at the University of Nevada School of Medicine there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of medical students deciding to go into obstetrics. This is happening at a time when Nevada is the fastest growing State in the country.”