Article Reviews State Legislative Trends of 2011 and Makes Predictions for 2012

The number of medical liability reform bills introduced and passed at the state level substantially increased in 2011, reports an article published in the February 2012 Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. The article reviews some of the state legislative trends of 2011 and makes predictions about state-level activities for 2012. Beyond an increase in medical liability reform, other state legislative activities that were common in 2011 included efforts to expand the scope of practice of among nonphysician providers, the advancement of legislation addressing the problem of student athlete concussions, and the consideration of legislation to restrict the ability of physicians to ask patients about firearms in their homes.