Deadline Set for Application for Medical Liability Reform Grants

by Holly Hayes

In September, President Obama authorized the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allocate $25 million for medical liability reform pilot projects. Grant proposals may be submitted beginning December 20 and are due by January 20, 2010. Additional details on the grant application process are available at American Medical News.

The purpose of these grants is as follows:

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications for planning grants from States and health care systems for patient safety and medical liability innovations that put patient safety first and work to reduce preventable injuries; foster better communication between doctors and their patients; ensure that patients are compensated in a fair and timely manner for medical injuries, while also reducing the incidence of frivolous lawsuits; and reduce liability premiums.

States and health systems “will have to collect data to show the innovation worked and had an impact on liability claims and the cost of malpractice insurance, as well as on patient safety. So we are looking at both sides of the equation,” said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, MD. “Ultimately, to get a grant under this program, applicants have to evaluate the impact on patient safety. That is the overarching objective.”

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