Sebelius studying GOP-favored medical liability reform projects.

Although Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is a champion of the Ohama administration's pro-health-reform efforts, she's also begun a task favored by the GOP.

HHS has been asked by the president to formulate pilot programs for medical professional liability reforms--a Republican-championed issue presented by President Obama as an olive branch to the political opponents of Democrats' health reform ideas.

It's unclear what the extent of the programs will be, or exactly how they'll work, but Obama said in his address to a joint session of Congress last month: "I know that the Bush administration considered authorizing demonstration projects in individual states to test these issues. It's a good idea, and I am directing my secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative."

Sebelius later said, "This new initiative will give states the chance to apply for grants that would support projects that help reduce lawsuits and promote patient safety." She said the demonstration projects may include such ideas as certificates of merit and early-disclosure programs.

"We'll give funding to states to try these reforms. And then we'll study the results," Sebelius said, adding that Obama "has asked me to work quickly."