A recent bill passed by Iowa Legislators puts a cap on how much money can be awarded to individuals in cases of medical malpractice.

Iowa House Representative for District 23 Ray Sorensen tells Raccoon Valley Radio that while he understands the need to make sure people are compensated for medical errors and malpractice, he saw the issue as a rural one.

“One massive award for non-economic damages can close a smaller hospital or a physician’s practice. And that leaves Iowans without access to the care that they may need. Twenty-eight other states have currently put in a hard cap on non-economic damages, or even total damages, including all the surrounding states.”

Sorensen adds that Iowa currently ranks 44th in the nation for physicians per capita. The bill puts a cap of $1 million for clinics and individual doctors, and $2 million for hospitals.