MISSING IN ACTION ON HEALTH CARE REFORM:
Trial Lawyers and Government Bureaucrats

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Physicians, insurers, drug makers, hospitals, medical equipment makers, even union workers have now pledged to President Barack Obama they would voluntarily hold down costs over the coming decade to combat unsustainable healthcare inflation. But two of America’s biggest contributors to soaring health prices were conspicuous by their absence at the President’s news conference on the topic – trial lawyers and government regulators.

"It is inexcusable that these two prime catalysts for healthcare inflation are planning to permanently keep their snouts in the trough, regardless the hardship it causes working families trying to afford healthcare," says House Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (R-TX). "Over-regulation at the state level is a leading cause of families being forced out of the individual health insurance market in many states," says U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX31). "And medical malpractice trial attorneys are not only driving malpractice insurance premiums through the roof, they are fueling big hikes in consumer costs by forcing physicians to practice defensive medicine. We cannot effectively hold down healthcare costs until something is done about these habitual offenders."

President Obama’s Monday news conference was attended by representatives from the American Medical Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the American Hospital Association, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, and the Service Employees International Union, but no representatives from attorney or state regulatory organizations.

"These two groups obviously feel they are above reform based on their contributions to and support of the Obama campaign," says Carter. "But they are not above reproach by the American public – or the voters. We need to demand from these groups precisely what they propose to change about their behavior and practices that will lower the rate of healthcare inflation over the next ten years."