Lawrence J. McQuillan
Business & Economics
Rep. Issa: Was Obama ‘Just Lying to Congress’ on Tort Reform Pledge?
Health care spending consumes 17 percent of the economy, or about $2.5 trillion, and is projected to reach $4.7 trillion by 2019. The committee report contends that putting some restraints on medical malpractice lawsuits will reign in medical costs. It is estimated that these additional liability-based medical care costs adds ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
February 9, 2010
Business & Economics
Tort system deficiencies raise health costs for all
Wayne Willoughby argued that tort reform amounts to “stripping away the rights of injured patients” (“‘Tort reform’ won’t fix health care,” Commentary, Dec. 18). But America’s current tort system is hardly adept at protecting patients’ interests. Very little of each tort-cost dollar goes to compensate the injured. Not only do ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
January 3, 2010
Business & Economics
To Revive New York’s Economy, Attack Lawsuit Abuse
New York’s unemployment rate is hovering near 9% – the highest in more than a decade. Meanwhile, almost 12% of Empire State homeowners are late on their mortgages or in foreclosure. From 1997 through 2007, the number of jobs in New York increased only 8%, ranking the state 36th. During ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
November 18, 2009
Business & Economics
An Empire Disaster: Why New York’s Tort System is Broken and How to Fix It
(ALBANY) A new study of New York’s legal system conducted by Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a nationally known research firm, has concluded that New York’s legal system is the third worst in the country and is costing taxpayers millions of dollars through higher taxes and increased costs for goods, insurance ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
November 17, 2009
Business & Economics
CBO Underestimates Benefits of Malpractice Reform
Getting sued is now part of the job description for physicians. Each year, up to 25 percent of them face lawsuits. Doctors are found innocent in 90 percent of cases, but they lose even then — average defense costs per claim approach $100,000. Fear of lawsuits causes most doctors to ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
October 21, 2009
Business & Economics
Ending drugmakers’ exemption will cost jobs
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The biopharmaceutical industry currently employs more than 100,000 Michiganders and ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
October 15, 2009
Commentary
The Facts about Medical Malpractice Liability Costs
There is a lot of talk in Washington about cutting wasteful health care spending and, more specifically, cutting costs associated with medical malpractice liability. The dollar figures used by various groups and lawmakers often diverge widely. This paper presents what we know, and don’t know, about medical malpractice liability costs.
Lawrence J. McQuillan
October 7, 2009
Business & Economics
Anna Nicole Smith Was No Jimmy Stewart
In Frank Capra’s classic 1946 movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, the straight-arrow president of a struggling small-town building and loan company played by Jimmy Stewart realizes his bumbling Uncle Billy has lost $8,000 of the company’s cash on Christmas Eve afternoon, just as a bank examiner is arriving for an ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
October 1, 2009
Business & Economics
Michigan can’t afford ‘FDA defense’ repeal
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
September 27, 2009
Business & Economics
Letter: House bill will penalize drug makers
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Lawrence J. McQuillan
September 3, 2009
Rep. Issa: Was Obama ‘Just Lying to Congress’ on Tort Reform Pledge?
Health care spending consumes 17 percent of the economy, or about $2.5 trillion, and is projected to reach $4.7 trillion by 2019. The committee report contends that putting some restraints on medical malpractice lawsuits will reign in medical costs. It is estimated that these additional liability-based medical care costs adds ...
Tort system deficiencies raise health costs for all
Wayne Willoughby argued that tort reform amounts to “stripping away the rights of injured patients” (“‘Tort reform’ won’t fix health care,” Commentary, Dec. 18). But America’s current tort system is hardly adept at protecting patients’ interests. Very little of each tort-cost dollar goes to compensate the injured. Not only do ...
To Revive New York’s Economy, Attack Lawsuit Abuse
New York’s unemployment rate is hovering near 9% – the highest in more than a decade. Meanwhile, almost 12% of Empire State homeowners are late on their mortgages or in foreclosure. From 1997 through 2007, the number of jobs in New York increased only 8%, ranking the state 36th. During ...
An Empire Disaster: Why New York’s Tort System is Broken and How to Fix It
(ALBANY) A new study of New York’s legal system conducted by Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a nationally known research firm, has concluded that New York’s legal system is the third worst in the country and is costing taxpayers millions of dollars through higher taxes and increased costs for goods, insurance ...
CBO Underestimates Benefits of Malpractice Reform
Getting sued is now part of the job description for physicians. Each year, up to 25 percent of them face lawsuits. Doctors are found innocent in 90 percent of cases, but they lose even then — average defense costs per claim approach $100,000. Fear of lawsuits causes most doctors to ...
Ending drugmakers’ exemption will cost jobs
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The biopharmaceutical industry currently employs more than 100,000 Michiganders and ...
The Facts about Medical Malpractice Liability Costs
There is a lot of talk in Washington about cutting wasteful health care spending and, more specifically, cutting costs associated with medical malpractice liability. The dollar figures used by various groups and lawmakers often diverge widely. This paper presents what we know, and don’t know, about medical malpractice liability costs.
Anna Nicole Smith Was No Jimmy Stewart
In Frank Capra’s classic 1946 movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, the straight-arrow president of a struggling small-town building and loan company played by Jimmy Stewart realizes his bumbling Uncle Billy has lost $8,000 of the company’s cash on Christmas Eve afternoon, just as a bank examiner is arriving for an ...
Michigan can’t afford ‘FDA defense’ repeal
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Letter: House bill will penalize drug makers
During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...