Assessing the Impact of Tort Reforms on Physician Supply Trends in Texas
Date
2014-05
Authors
Garrett, Jeremy
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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.
Description
An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Spring 2014.
Keywords
tort reform, damages caps, defensive medicine, physician supply, House Bill 4, Texas public policy, insurance premiums, doctor shortages, Public Administration
Citation
Garrett, J. (2014). Assessing the impact of tort reforms on physician supply trends in Texas. Masters of Public Administration, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.