Any doctors here? Anyone know any doctors here?

[SalParadise]

I'm curious to know if medical malpractice insurance costs have gone down since the tort reform legislation went through.

Would it stand to reason that soon after the passage of the bill that premiums SHOULD have gone down dramatically since there's no longer the threat of multi-million dollar lawsuits?

Anyone know?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. I don't have the answer to your question.... but I do have a resource for

those who may be affected in some way by this issue....

www.iatrogenic.org



The American Iatrogenic Association is devoted to the study and reporting of medical errors that lead to disease and death.

In 2000, a presidential task force labelled medical errors a "national problem of epidemic proportions." Members estimated that the "cost associated with these errors in lost income, disability, and health care costs is as much as $29 billion annually." That same year the Institute of Medicine released an historic report, "To err is human: building a safer health system." The report's authors concluded that 44,000 to 98,000 people die each year as a result of errors during hospitalization.

[Sgent]

2. Malpractice Ins.

It has stabalized -- 10% increase last year, 0% this year (vs 30-40%).

The bigger issue is that 2 new insurers came into the state. Since the largest insurer in the state hasn't written any new policies in 3 years, and the (former) second largest went bankrupt, it has been impossible to recruit a physician, as they can't get private individual insurance.