President Obama announced yesterday that the government will set aside $25 million to support state grants for pilot programs to reduce medical malpractice lawsuits.
ABC News describes the grant process this way:
The Department of Health and Human Services will oversee the process for states to launch and test initiatives that meet the following parameters:
• Put patient safety first and work to reduce preventable injuries;
• Foster better communication between doctors and their patients;
• Ensure that patients are compensated in a fair and timely manner for medical injuries, while also reducing the incidence of frivolous lawsuits; and
• Reduce liability premiums.
The effort will be directed by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Here is the "fact sheet" released by the White House when it announced the project.