Assessing the Impact of Tort Reforms on Physician Supply Trends in Texas
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the trends in physician supply following the 2003 enactment of tort reforms in the state of Texas. Methods: The data used in this study are from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Interrupted time-series analysis evaluates the data for trends in regards to the number of physicians per 100,000 residents in the state of Texas as a whole and also the physician trends for the five most populated Texas counties. Results: The results show that tort reforms have not had an effect on physician supply in Texas. Conclusions: The promise of more physicians coming to Texas after tort reforms were enacted has not been met. There is a strong likelihood that the underserved areas of the state that were supposed to benefit from tort reform continue to face shortages of physicians in their respective area.
