Joe Pitts: “in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have a crisis on our hands. Last year, there were more than $1.2 billion in…”

“in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have a crisis on our hands. Last year, there were more than $1.2 billion in medical malpractice suit payouts. That's a thousand dollars for every man, woman, and child in the Keystone State. That's a huge drain on our economy. Worse than that, it's hurting patients. In my Congressional district, one hospital recently closed its trauma center and another canceled plans to build a center city clinic to serve the poor. A third hospital is about to close its maternity ward and fourth hospital nearby is on the verge of cutting back on emergency room services. Why? Because they can't find medical malpractice insurance. Insurance companies literally can't charge enough for their policies to stay in business, so they're leaving the Commonwealth. And that means doctors and hospitals can't get insurance. Doctors are leaving the profession or leaving the state. One doctor in my district says there were thirty companies offering malpractice policies when he started his practice 30 years ago. Now there is only one, and he's not sure they'll give him a policy. This is a crisis, Mr. Speaker. And Pennsylvania is not the only state in the Union that's in trouble. It's time for Congress to act. And we need to act now. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.”