As an executive with Tanner Clinic — a physician-owned organization healthcare company that’s been serving Utah families for decades — I’ve seen firsthand how healthcare has changed in recent years. Costs are rising, good providers are burning out, recruiting has become increasingly difficult, and the pressure on local clinics to keep up with technology while keeping costs low continues to grow. Too often, it’s our patients and frontline healthcare workers who feel this the most.
That’s why I’m grateful to Representative Katy Hall and Senator Scott Sandall for sponsoring HB503. Prior to this reform, 50% of all doctors over the age of 45 were contemplating early retirement. This bill will help bring balance back to Utah by limiting costs on the system and reining in factors that contribute to physician burnout and well-being.
In recent years, clinics like ours have seen significant medical liability insurance rates increase due to large verdicts or settlements in the state. These large awards have been inflated by fictional costs — so-called “phantom damages.” These numbers don’t reflect the actual cost of care or what was paid. However, they have been used to demand massive payouts, raising the cost of insurance and, therefore, raising the cost of care for our patients. These lawsuits are on the rise; 90% of all orthopedic surgeons have been sued, and 83% of all OB-GYN and general surgeons have been sued. These suits contribute to provider burnout and fatigue. HB503 strikes a balance for providers and patients.
At Tanner Clinic, we aspire to provide access to excellent care for our patients, and when an adverse outcome occurs, we believe in accountability. To be able to provide adequate healthcare access for our patients, as well as support accountability for patients, we must have a balance in our legal system. HB503 helps restore that balance in Utah. It brings transparency to the courtroom and restores stability to a system that has long been tilted against healthcare workers.
Groups like the Utah Medical Association and independent clinics and providers across the state supported this bill because we know it will help protect access to care. When providers are unfairly targeted, it doesn’t just hurt them — it impacts every Utahn who needs an appointment, a diagnosis, or a life-saving procedure.
On behalf of the hundreds of doctors, nurses, and clinic staff I work with — and the patients we serve — I want to thank Rep. Hall and Sen. Sandall, Speaker Schultz and Senate President Adams for having the courage to stand up for real reform.
Dr. Steven C. Meek MD, FACOG, is the Chairman of the Board, Tanner Clinic
