According to the New York Times, many people believe that medical malpractice reform is the key to removing waste from the health care system and making the practice of medicine better. But a growing body of evidence shows that belief is most likely mistaken.

Questions:
1. What is the rationale for malpractice reform as cost control?
2. What were the costs of the malpractice system in the United States, as detailed in this article?
3. What is defensive medicine? According to the article, if malpractice premiums fall by as a huge change of 30 percent, what would be the effect on spending for defensive medicine?
4. What happened to the cost savings in Florida? How has that changed the healthcare system?

Source:
Carroll, A.E. (2014). Malpractice Reform Won’t Do Much to Reduce Health Spending. The New York Times, Nov. 3 (Retrievable online at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/04/upshot/malpractice-reform-wont-do-much-to-reduce-health-spending.html?action=click&contentCollection=Health&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=Blogs&abt=0002&abg=0)