Henry Veto of Modest Lawsuit Reform Bill Shows True Loyalties

Gov. Brad Henry showed his continued loyalty to Oklahoma’s trial lawyers with a veto of a bipartisan bill that would have limited liability of doctors under contract with the state to perform administrative services, such as examining patient records.

The modest reform contained in HB 1930, by Rep. Kris Steele (R-Shawnee) and Sen. Charles Laster (D-Shawnee), would have placed physicians under the Governmental Tort Claims Act for their administrative work for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Such work is not covered by private insurance coverage, which led the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to request the legislation. The authority is the state agency that provides Medicaid health services to the poor.

“Gov. Henry continues to show his loyalty to Oklahoma trial lawyers, protecting them from even a modest reform such as that contained in HB 1930,” stated Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“This is a very disappointing veto, and it reduces my hope that a meaningful lawsuit reform bill will ever become law so long as Brad Henry is the governor of this state,” he said.