The states that receive grants will submit an annual report to HHS evaluating the effectiveness of the programs on patient safety and availability, and price of medical liability insurance. HHS will also conduct a study of the overall evaluation of the effectiveness of the grants for Congress.

The HHS evaluations will analyze and compare program information on:


--Statistics on injuries allegedly caused by health care providers or health care organizations;

--Statistics on claims in which tort litigation was pursued despite the existence of an alternative program;

--Patient safety and medical errors/adverse events;

--Patient and health care provider and organization satisfaction with the alternative and with the medical liability environment;

--Impact on utilization of medical services.

The PPACA has also extended medical liability coverage to free clinics.

OTHER REFORM NEWS

In other health reform news, President Obama recently held a speech at the American Nurses Association. He thanked the organization for supporting health care reform and described measures that would benefit the primary care workforce, such as funding for students training part-time to become nurse practitioners to start training full-time, and providing resources for clinics run by registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Also this week, Obama praised the new Patients' Bill of Rights under the PPACA.

The President's remarks can be accessed at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-american-nurses-association

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-affordable-care-act-and-new-patients-bill-rights

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