Bush to address rising medical malpractice insurance costs in NC speech tomorrow (Edwards home turf)

Associated Press ^ | July 24, 2002 | JENNIFER LOVEN

[jern]

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON(AP) - The Bush administration renewed its push Wednesday to rein in medical malpractice litigation and address soaring insurance costs that are causing many doctors to flee certain communities and high-risk practices.

The fresh effort to restrict awards in malpractice cases was seen in a report Wednesday by Health and Human Services Department. President Bush also was making the issue a centerpiece of his visit Thursday to a hospital and university in High Point, N.C.

The price of malpractice insurance for certain high-risk specialists increased about 10 percent last year and may rise by 20 percent this year, the report said. Costs are climbing even faster in states without limits on compensation other than for the injured patient's actual economic loss, the report found.

Premiums can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year and go as high as $200,000.

States with limits between $250,000 to $350,000 for pain and suffering awards had average maximum premium increases for internists, general surgeons and obstetricians of between 12 percent and 15 percent last year, compared with an average of 44 percent in states with no caps.

The result has been closed practices, rising health care costs overall as doctors defensively prescribe unnecessary tests and treatments, and fewer physicians entering high-risk areas.

The solution is to limit damages for pain and suffering in malpractice cases, the report suggests.

"We must put an end to the malpractice litigation lottery that favors a handful of powerful personal injury lawyers and instead create a commonsense system," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said.

Legislation in Congress would limit the pain and suffering and punitive portions of malpractice awards. The bill, intended to override state laws, would curtail lawyers' fees and allow juries to hear about the plaintiffs' other sources of income.

Promoted by White House aides at the beginning of the year, Bush has hardly touched on the subject since.

But recent news reports have highlighted a growing number of communities experiencing the loss of medical practices and physicians, in Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Oregon and elsewhere.

Bush was traveling to the home state of Sen. John Edwards, a potential Democratic contender in the 2004 presidential race who made millions trying personal injury lawsuits against big companies before he joined Congress.

The president also was to raise money for Republican Senate hopeful Elizabeth Dole, who is seeking to replace retiring GOP Sen. Jesse Helms.

The American Medical Association says the problem is particularly acute in a dozen states where rising premiums are tied to expensive awards by state juries.

The average jury award for medical malpractice doubled to $1 million in the six years ending in 2000, according to Jury Verdict Research, a private database used by lawyers, insurers and doctors. Lawyers who handle malpractice cases are critical of the database, pointing out that it is not comprehensive and contending that its findings are inflated.

Trial lawyers are opposed to caps, citing surveys showing juries rule in favor of doctors in two-thirds of all malpractice lawsuits. They say doctors and hospitals should focus on reducing mistakes, not jury awards.

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On the Net:

American Medical Association: http://www.ama-assn.org

Association of Trial Lawyers of America: http://www.atla.org

[jern]

Constitution Day

[Brilliant]

The real problem with our health care system is one that neither party will acknowledge--too few doctors. For decades, the health care establishment, which is run by doctors, has been selling the idea that we have too many doctors. That has resulted in a situation where our government has artificially reduced the number of students who can attend medical school, reducing the number of doctors, and causing a severe undercapacity, driving up prices.

[OldFriend]

Another reason for the sky rocketing health insurance costs is the fact that doctor's are so afraid of being sued, they waste millions of dollars on unnecessary tests.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!

[Moonman62]

Promoted by White House aides at the beginning of the year, Bush has hardly touched on the subject since.

No wonder it was put on the back burner. It doesn't involve a massive increase in the size and cost of government, although I think it's best that the government stay out of it altogether. Another reason all types of insurance are more expensive is that insurance companies are having to make up for greatly diminished investment returns. A smaller government, pro growth economic policy from the White House would surely help.

[dixiechick2000]

Did you know about this?
Bush addressing rising malpractice costs...ON EDWARD'S TURF!
HA!

[urodoc]

Actually medical schools are having a difficult time filling their available positions at present. I am involved with a family practice residency program and we are also having problems finding qualified medical school graduates to fill our residency slots. Law school admissions I understand are up. People are not stupid. Why spend 4 years in medical school and 3 to six more years in residency at a cost of several $100,000 dollars to become a physician when other more lucrative positions require less time and effort?

[missanne]

I agree. I serve on the Medical Board of my state and you would NOT believe the number of foreign doctors coming into this country! And they are coming in from the Sudan, Pakistan, Saudi, Egypt!!! My own daughter choose NOT to be a doctor when she discovered that only lower interest loans would be given to those who went into "family medicine" that was the Klinton plan... We reap what is sown...... we will find many,many long effects of the Klinton years that we don't realize for years! Klinton Health care paid medical teaching hospitals to not produce doctors! Now they are coming in from everywhere......

[Chesner]

Doesn't anyone on this thread understand... if you read Free Republic often, there are quite a few "freepers" who have an enormous amount of disdain for physicians. Aren't they all greedy, liberal, incompetent, and dishonest?

There's no need for malpractice reform, right?

[ArmoredCav]

Well said. I think that many people do not understand the length of time and effort it takes to become a physician.
As I understand it:

4+ years of college (debt accrual 50-100k)
4 years of med school (debt accrual 50-150k)
3-6 years residency (ave pay 35-40k for ave 80hrs/wk)
optional 1-3 years fellowship (ave pay 40-50k for 80h/wk)

Then you get to put a target on your back, and get derided as a "rich doctor". Sounds like fun!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The letters from the good doctors in Corpus Christi suffering from the latest in a never ending round of Trial Lawyer mischief-making tell the story: (Edwards, Mr. "Snake" Trial Lawyer is helping his biggest contributors...other Trial Lawyers w/ PBOR).

Corpus Christi residents sound off on lawsuit abuse, lawyers vs. doctorsAmerica's on the side of the doctors. What happened to "By The People?"

Help stop lawsuit abuse, www.overlawyered.com,
www.cse.org, Citizens for a Sound Economy.

[ohioWfan]

Bush was traveling to the home state of Sen. John Edwards, a potential Democratic contender in the 2004 presidential race who made millions trying personal injury lawsuits against big companies before he joined Congress.

This is sweet!

[rintense]

It is sweet. But the lib press will write it off as another example of President Bush protecting the HMOs, corporations, yada, yada, yada... *YAWN* When you expect the worst, you're never surprised or disappointed.

[WilliamWallace1999]

"The real problem with our health care system is one that neither party will acknowledge--too few doctors. For decades, the health care establishment, which is run by doctors, has been selling the idea that we have too many doctors. That has resulted in a situation where our government has artificially reduced the number of students who can attend medical school, reducing the number of doctors, and causing a severe undercapacity, driving up prices. "

Brilliant you are not. You statement could not be farther from the truth. The only oversupply of physicians is in major urban areas. The republican voting counties in this country are woefully underserved. Doctors do not even get to decide what they charge anymore. Of the healthcare dollars spent on private insurance, 20-30% goes into plan administration and shareholder profits, 50-70% goes to the hospitals, and only 15-20% to physicians. These numbers are based on data from the American Hospital Assn, not the doctors. If there is really an oversupply of physicians, why does all the data show longer waits for appoitments and fewer physicians to choose from?

[ohioWfan]

When you expect the worst, you're never surprised or disappointed.

I have a son who lives by that motto........are we related?! :o)

[rintense]

Actually, I think that's taught in a Dale Carnegie course.

[Desdemona]

While this is really true (I used to work at one of the MAJOR med schools in the country), it would advisable for doctors, surgeons specifically, to double check charts before acting. I've heard one too many stories of the wrong foot amputated, wrong artery bypassed, patients with DNR orders resussitated, whatever. Pain and suffering aside, the mistakes are adding up.

I worked in the library. We opened early so the residents could have some time in the off hours to get to the computers, and those guys were so overworked it's not even funny.

All that aside, I understand malpractice insurance is ridiulously high. The system is now set up to bankrupt these people, many of whom really just want to serve others. That's really sad.

[cva66snipe]

"We must put an end to the malpractice litigation lottery that favors a handful of powerful personal injury lawyers and instead create a commonsense system," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said.

Well to get to the heart of that simple matter take HEY MOE HMO's off the protected species list and make them face the responsibilities for their actions. I would bet seeing this issue hurts specalist the most that many suits are the result of a specialist who if was given a chance to do early intervention by the HMO would not have to wait till a problem hits an accute stage and a substancial increase in risk for treatment. Of course you will never hear Bush or anyone in congress say this.

Now how to deal with the lawyers? The answer is one the founders gave us. A person has a right to represent themself in our nations courts. No person should be forced into bankruptcy to defend themselves be it civil or criminal. In short our courts have been taken over by the worlds second oldest profession. Legal language is not written for the common layman to understand or comprehend. The nations courts need to return to a basic laymans terms for all written and oral documentation and testimony.

I have zero sympathy for the HMO & Lawyer professions. Both have rendered almost useless their related fields. The HMO's have in effect ruined health care as we know it and lawyers have made it purposely to where even the basic of legal procedures must be written and handled by their profession.

[ohioWfan]

And you took one? Is that where you got all your tact and developed that inability you have to say what you really think? :o)

[rintense]

Heh! I won three awards in that damn class and even had people say they wished I was their boss. Can you believe that? Maybe I should run for office....

FYI, it was required as part of our work team... I didn't want to go.