The Tennessee Medical Association on Wednesday announced results of a national survey showing that office-based physicians in Tennessee contribute $17.5 billion to the economy and support more than 75,000 jobs.

Those figures — pulled from the study conducted by the American Medical Association — could be improved if the state approves Gov. Haslam's tort reform proposal.

"A survey by the American Medical Association proves that Tennessee's physicians offices are big contributors to our state's economic engine," said TMA President B.W. Ruffner. "If we are going to keep the doctors we have and attract new ones, we must pass these additional reforms to help reduce the threat of lawsuits and improve our overall business climate."

According to the report, which uses 2009 figures, office-based physicians s upport 75,191 jobs in Tennessee and contribute $17.5 billion in economic output (about 7.2 percent of the total GDP). In addition, they generate about $543 milllion in state and local taxes and provide more than $24 billion in charity care.

For more on the issue, see WPLN's coverage of the tort reform debate.