Challenges to Our Freedoms and Rights Here at Home

CHALLENGES TO OUR FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS HERE AT HOME -- (House of Representatives - January 25, 2005)

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an issue of great importance to the citizens of the Fifth District of North Carolina. We are deeply concerned about the skyrocketing costs of medical malpractice insurance because it is limiting access to quality and affordable health care all over western North Carolina, but particularly in the rural portions. The escalating cost of health care is a major concern in the fifth district.

Just 2 weeks ago, I held meetings with community leaders in all 12 counties in my district. The issue of the rising cost of medical insurance was raised at each and every meeting. After all, the American Medical Association has determined that North Carolina is one of 19 States in the country that is currently identified as a "crisis" State.

Due to an onslaught of frivolous lawsuits, our physicians are being forced to pay exorbitant premiums on their liability insurance. The rates have risen so high that many family practitioners and OB-GYNs are being forced to retire early or simply go out of business. Doctors are refusing to deliver babies or perform surgery because they are afraid of being sued. That is especially a problem in our rural communities, where many doctors are sole practitioners.

Just as alarming, our medical school enrollments are on the decline, which will limit the health care available to our future generations.

Recently, I spent 2 days with medical professionals in my district. According to the experts in the medical community of Forsyth County, there was at least a 20 to 40 percent increase last year in medical malpractice insurance premiums. The biggest impact, again, was felt in the specialty fields like OB-GYN, emergency medicine and surgery.

What is happening across North Carolina is that doctors are no longer going into specialized fields like obstetrics. This is short-changing the people of the Fifth District, because it is limiting access to the health care specialists they need. We must remember that this is an issue that affects everyone, not just doctors.

In early 2003, with the backing of the Bush administration, the U.S. House of Representatives moved quickly to address medical liability reform by passing H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Health Care. Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate failed to pass this meaningful and important legislation. I look forward to the debate this year in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to address this health care crisis. We need to enact meaningful medical malpractice reform. My priority is that the citizens of Fifth District of North Carolina and all across the Nation have continued access to quality, affordable health care.

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