Does Tort Reform Really Work?

Judge for yourself. The following chart highlights the states with highest and lowest malpractice insurance premiums.

Highest premiums	2008	2009	Change
Internists
Florida (Miami-Dade)	$53,723	$57,859	8%
Illinois (Cook, Madison, St. Clair)	$41,066	$41,066	0%
Michigan (Oakland, Wayne)	$36,988	$36,988	0%
Ohio (Cuyahoga, Lorain)	$40,020	$34,017	-15%
New York (Nassau, Suffolk)	$33,360	$33,360	0%
General surgeons
Florida (Miami-Dade)	$214,893	$191,422	-11%
Michigan (Wayne)	$143,445	$143,445	0%
Illinois (Cook, Madison, St. Clair)	$127,083	$127,083	0%
Ohio (Cuyahoga, Lorain)	$141,336	$120,135	-15%
New York (Nassau, Suffolk)	$106,583	$106,583	0%
Ob-gyns
Florida (Miami-Dade)	$238,728	$201,808	-15%
New York (Nassau, Suffolk)	$194,935	$194,935	0%
Illinois (Cook, Madison, St. Clair)	$178,291	$178,291	0%
Nevada (Clark)	$168,750	$168,750	0%
New Jersey	$171,199	$159,214	-7%
Lowest premiums	2008	2009	Change
Internists
Minnesota	$3,375	$3,375	0%
South Dakota	$3,697	$3,697	0%
Wisconsin	$3,946	$3,946	0%
Idaho	$5,552	$5,276	-5%
Oregon	$5,479	$5,479	0%
General surgeons
Minnesota	$11,306	$11,306	0%
South Dakota	$12,569	$12,569	0%
Wisconsin	$13,813	$13,813	0%
Iowa	$17,860	$17,860	0%
North Dakota	$18,063	$18,063	0%
Ob-gyns
Wisconsin	$18,154	$18,154	0%
South Dakota	$20,042	$20,042	0%
Minnesota	$20,626	$20,626	0%
Iowa	$27,285	$27,285	0%
North Dakota	$27,596	$27,596	0%

So, does tort reform really help reduce health care costs? Compare the list of states with the lowest premiums to the master list of states that have enacted tort reform. Gee, what a coincidence.

No, it's not very complicated. But that doesn't mean the Statists in the pay of the trial lawyers will ever change their minds. Come hell or high water, they want to control your physical well-being using government-run health care, NHS-style.