Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Vetoes Bill that would Modify MCare
Side note: The Governor of Pennsylvania, Edward G. Rendell, recently vetoed Senate Bill 1280. Bill 1280 would modify Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act, or MCare, by freezing primary medical malpractice insurance limits for seven years. The Bill also would adjust the formula for determining the assessments by which McCare is funded. Rendell vetoed the Bill since he saw it as a threat to all of the progress that the state has made over the last decade making medical malpractice insurance affordable to the medical community of Pennsylvania.
Governor Rendell Vetoes Legislation: MCare Changes Not Good for Providers or Patients
Bill Needs More Study, Analysis, Public Input
Governor Edward G. Rendell today vetoed Senate Bill 1280 noting the proposed legislation would destabilize the medical malpractice market, affecting physicians, other health care providers and ultimately the quality of care available.
“Senate Bill 1280 fails to recognize the noteworthy progress we have made in Pennsylvania’s medical malpractice insurance marketplace,” said Governor Rendell. “The bill would cause extreme swings in the MCare assessment from year to year, which would be detrimental to providers, would destabilize the medical malpractice market, and would create a crisis atmosphere that would undermine the commonwealth’s continuing ability to retain and attract physicians and other health care providers to Pennsylvania. None of this is prudent or in the best interests of Pennsylvania or its citizens.
“Even more disconcerting is the fact that the proposed legislation would bring innovation in the marketplace to a complete halt for the next several years without evidence that this is needed and without an assessment of how this might impact our medical providers.”
