Do Medical Malpractice Reforms Affect Health Care Costs and Outcomes?

Abstract

The impact of medical malpractice reforms on the cost and quality of health care is of great interest to policy makers. This study examines national data on malpractice reforms implemented and health care provided to Medicare beneficiaries between 1995 and 2004. State-level reforms’ effect on health care expenditures and outcomes is determined in four disease-based populations. Reforms are shown not to have any meaningful impact on six-month expenditures or outcome measures in the majority of cases. Policymakers considering tort reforms to restrain the growth of health care expenditures are advised to concentrate on alternative measures.