A possible $250,000 cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases could keep doctors in Illinois.

The announcement of a plan to ensure doctors continue practicing in Illinois came just four days after Gov. Rod Blagojevich gave his State of the State Address.

Blagojevich expressed concern with the high cost of health care during his Feb. 3 speech.

“We need medical malpractice reform and we need it now,” Blagojevich said in his speech.

State Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley), along with physicians, patients and other health care providers, unveiled the plan at a press conference Feb. 7.

If approved, the plan would cap non-economic damages against doctors at $250,000, while hospitals would have a $500,000 cap.

“This is similar to a plan we had last year,” Pritchard said. “This year we’ve included more strategies.”

The plan would give the Division of Professional Regulation and the Division of Insurance an increased ability to investigate excessive patterns of negligence and high insurance costs, Pritchard said.

It would decrease the number of frivolous lawsuits by increasing the qualifications for expert witnesses on malpractice cases.

Pritchard said the plan is fair to both patients and physicians – something Blagojevich stressed the importance of achieving.

“We can protect the personal assets of doctors, preserve the rights of injured people to bring their claims and make sure insurance companies reduce their premiums,” Blagojevich said in his State of the State speech.

One of the most important things to do is get word out about the situation, Pritchard said.

“This is a problem for the entire state of Illinois,” Pritchard said. “If there’s a very important medical service, it needs to be provided everywhere.”

Pritchard said he is happy with how people have responded to and demanded change.

“We’re hearing people in high places talking about this and seeing people take stands on it,” Pritchard said. “We’ve got to continue to get people that are concerned about quality health care on our side.”

Eileen Dubin, DeKalb County Democratic chairwoman, said the health care issue is important.

“It’s been said that doctors have been leaving the state. Whether it’s true or not, it’s something we need to look at,” Dubin said. “If they are leaving, we need to find a way to keep them here.”

With the recent amount of support received from the governor and other Illinois democrats, Pritchard said he is optimistic that the state House and Senate will take up the bill this spring.