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 counties are 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 units closed since 2005
- 47.6 percent of women in rural Pa. counties live more than 30 minutes from a birthing hospital
- 16 counties have reduced access to maternal care and 6 are considered maternal care deserts
Out of Balance
Pennsylvania is an outlier among states for medical liability.
- Highest medical liability payouts per capita among all states
- 21 percent year-over-year increase in medical liability premiums for OB/GYNs and surgeons
- 30–60 percent higher premiums for high-risk specialties than some neighboring states
A Statewide Crisis
Philadelphia courts are known for excessive verdicts but a 2022 legal rule change threatens care statewide. Trial attorneys can now “venue shop” by filing medical liability claims in counties with a history of higher payouts, rather than where the event occurred. As a result many more cases are being tried in Philadelphia, threatening access to care in rural communities throughout the commonwealth.
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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