New Jersey eyes help for patients after medical errors

Hospital patients and the companies insuring them would no longer be on the hook to pay for care after a serious medical error occurs under legislation introduced by New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Moriarty. The bill would prohibit New Jersey hospitals from charging for treating hospital-acquired conditions such as when an object is left inside a body during surgery, surgical-site infections, urinary tract infections resulting from a catheter, receiving incompatible blood, and others. The measure mirrors new federal restrictions refusing Medicare reimbursement for care resulting from mistakes.