MICRA is doing exactly what it’s supposed to in California. Want to raise or eliminate malpractice caps? Then deal with physician shortages. Pick your poison:

“Raising the MICRA cap would significantly increase healthcare costs, limiting patient access to doctors, hospitals and clinics throughout California,” said Lisa Maas, executive director of Californians Allied for Patient Protection, a trade group. “MICRA protects patient access to healthcare.”

San Diego obstetrician Philip Diamond is skeptical that the law is keeping patients from obtaining malpractice lawyers. But he acknowledged that limits on payouts do lead to trade-offs.

“If we raise the cap, where does that money come from?” he asked. “Any increase means a drop in access.”