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1 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES 2 3 4 Resolution: 226 5 (A-09) 6 7Introduced by: New York Delegation 8 9Subject: Revision of Federal Tort Claims Act 10 11Referred to: Reference Committee B 12 (Monica C. Wehby, MD, Chair) 13 14 15Whereas, The increasing number of uninsured patients is becoming a threat to the health care 16industry as well as a threat to public health; and 17 18Whereas, The economic situation makes it unlikely that significant amounts of resources can be 19made available to rectify these problems; and 20 21Whereas, It behooves us as a society to utilize resources effectively and efficiently; and 22 23Whereas, The cost associated with medical liability premiums is a major expense and frequently 24serves as a deterrent for physicians in various specialties to practice in geographic areas 25throughout the state where liability rates are high; and 26 27Whereas, The inefficient, ineffective and poorly controlled tort claims systems in the states 28dissipate enormous amounts of resources that can be better applied to patient care; therefore 29be it 30 31RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association act on the proposal that all patients whose 32care is funded in all or in part by federal funds, and/or whose care is delivered in facilities 33funded in all or in part by federal funds, such as those patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, 34railroad retirement benefits, S-Chip, insurance purchased with pre-tax dollars, treated in not-for35profit facilities, etc., be brought under the jurisdiction of the Federal Tort Claims Act. (Directive to 36Take Action) 37 38Fiscal Note: Implement accordingly at estimated staff cost of $1,000. 39 40Received: 05/14/09