John Ensign: “What are we really talking about? We are talking about access to health care by patients. We have enacted reasonable…”

“What are we really talking about? We are talking about access to health care by patients. We have enacted reasonable limits in this bill so the crisis facing 19 States and the patients in 19 States across this country can be resolved. The problem is caused by out-of-control jury awards and frivolous lawsuits which are cheaper to settle--and those get settled all the time--than they are to fight. A lot of insurance companies just settle those and pass the higher rates on to doctors. That has led to many physicians leaving those 19 States in crisis and a lot of new doctors not going into the specialties which are in short supply. If we ask ourselves the fundamental question, Is there a shortage of doctors or is there a shortage of lawyers? we do not have a shortage of lawyers in my State home state of Nevada, or in any other State, as far as I know. We do have a shortage of people going into the practice of a lot of the specialties in health care. The reason is that we have a jury system that is out of balance.”