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Under the affordable care act, a number of notable healthcare reforms went into effect yesterday.  Notably, a number of women’s preventative services are now required to be covered by non-grandfathered healthcare plans.  One of the (unanswered) questions raised in the medical malpractice community is how these reforms will affect the frequency of medical malpractice claims, and medical care costs.  A number of commentators have suggested that the reforms will lead to more people receiving healthcare, some of which will be negligent, leading to an increase in medical malpractice cases, leading to increased medical costs.  Others, including the government’s official position, note that better preventive care, fraud prevention, better patient coordination, and other reforms should decrease medical costs overall.

-Josh J.T. Byrne, Esquire