Barr and Bera Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Patient Health and Lower Healthcare Costs

Press Release

Congressmen Andy Barr (R-KY) and Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today announced that they have introduced the bipartisan Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act. This legislation would lower healthcare costs and improve patient care by reducing medical malpractice and insurance fraud using evidence-based guidelines developed by doctors. Doctors who practice using these guidelines would be eligible for liability protection, known as a "safe harbor," if the case involves a federal statute or if federal money was used to pay for care.

Over the course of their careers, 75 percent of physicians will face a malpractice claim. The fear of lawsuits can lead to care choices that protect the physician legally, like ordering unnecessary tests and procedures, but may not be what evidence says is the best option for the patient. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, reforming this system has the potential to reduce healthcare spending by up to $64 billion over the next 10 years, and to improve care for patients.

"Congressman Bera and I introduced The Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act because there is nothing partisan about finding practical solutions to improve patient health outcomes," said Congressman Barr. "Americans deserve healthcare reform that will help lower the cost of care and protect the sacred patient-doctor relationship. Our bill will lead to better, more affordable, and evidence-based patient care by removing the need for physicians to worry about practicing defensive medicine, instead allowing them to focus on their patients' actual needs."

"The bipartisan Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act is a practical way to bring down the skyrocketing cost of healthcare, and to make the system work better for patients that people from both parties can get behind," said Congressman Bera. "As a doctor, I know that physicians want to do what's best for their patients, and promoting evidence-based medicine will help us do that."

Part of a collaborative and bipartisan freshman class of lawmakers, Bera is a Democratic physician from California and Barr is a Republican attorney from Kentucky. They met last January and decided to work together on this important challenge facing America that is relevant to both their areas of expertise.

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