Fact Sheet: Pennsylvania's Medical Liability Climate Threatens Access to Care

Fact Sheet: Pennsylvania's Medical Liability Climate Threatens Access to Care

Pennsylvania's medical liability climate puts access to care at risk. Excessive verdicts and soaring insurance premiums make it hard for the commonwealth to keep medical providers and high-risk services, like labor and delivery.

We need legislative reforms that keep providers in Pennsylvania and protect access to care by restoring balance to our medical liability system.

A Barrier to Keeping Providers

High premiums and the threat of excessive verdicts makes it challenging for Pennsylvania to attract and keep physicians and other providers.

• Pennsylvania ranks fourth in training physicians but keeps only about half of residency graduates
• 35 of 67 countiesare health professional shortage areas

Care at Risk

The commonwealth's medical liability climate threatens access to essential services, particularly labor and delivery.

• 39 labor and delivery unitsclosed since 2005
• 47.6 percentof women in rural Pa. counties live more than 30 minutesfrom a birthing hospital
• 16 countieshave reduced access to maternal care and 6 are considered maternal care deserts

Out of Balance

Pennsylvania is an outlier among states for medical liability.

• Highestmedical liability payouts per capita among all states
• 21 percent year-over-year increasein medical liability premiums for OB/GYNs and surgeons
• 30-60 percent higher premiumsfor high-risk specialties than some neighboring states

Patients and families deserve a fair process for resolving medical liability claims. But that system must have balance to ensure Pennsylvanians can access high-quality health care.

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Topics: Access to Care, Medical Liability, State Advocacy, Workforce

Revision Date: 10/16/2025

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