SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Gov. Rod Blagojevich made a renewed call for reforms to Illinois medical malpractice liability system in his State of the State address Thursday in Springfield.

The state's ongoing problems with medical malpractice insurance rates for doctors have caused many physicians to close up shop in recent years, raising concern about access to health care.

While the general assembly last year struggled to meet common ground on a solution to the state's medical malpractice crisis, Blagojevich said the time to act on a meaningful reform is now.

"We need medical malpractice reform and we need it now," he said. "We can protect the personal assets of doctors, preserve the rights of injured people to bring their claims and make sure insurance companies reduce their premiums."

Blagojevich said each interest group on the issue carried a good deal of influence in Springfield, but he said it was the legislators' jobs to pass a law that would be fair to everyone.

Memorial Hospital of Carbondale administrator George Maroney reacted to the governor's statements with some degree of skepticism.

"I was hoping the governor was going to come out and make a promise to the people for medical malpractice reform," Maroney said. "I think he needs to come forward and make a statement about as strong as (President George W. Bush) did."

Bush visited Collinsville last month, rallying for a federal solution to the national malpractice problem.

Southern Illinois Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Tom Firestone said when Blagojevich visited Southern Illinois recently, he touched on medical malpractice.

"I think we made it clear this is not about anything other than access to care," Firestone said. "(Blagojevich) said he was going to put some energy into it, and I'm not sure what that exactly meant."

Firestone said legislators almost have to reach some solution on the issue this session, or else many doctors will lose confidence in the state's ability to enact change.

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com 618-529-5454 x15090