HCFO-Funded Study on Malpractice Reform Cited in The New York Times

Malpractice reform has long been considered a remedy for defensive medicine and rising health care costs. Aaron E. Carroll, Indiana University School of Medicine and The Incidental Economist, recently reviewed the evidence on malpractice reform in The New York Times Upshot [1]and noted that, relative to other drivers of health care spending, malpractice costs comprise a small part of total spending—approximately 2.4 percent. Carroll cited evidence from a HCFO-funded study by J. William Thomas, Ph.D., University of Southern Maine, and colleagues that found [2]that a significant reduction in malpractice premiums would not result in a significant reduction in health care spending. More information on Dr. Thomas’ HCFO study is available here [3].