Pa. Is Losing Doctors And Insurance Companies Have A $6 Billion Surplus

County Press ^ | By John Williamson

[Tribune7]

First, lets describe the health care problems we have in Pennsylvania. Perhaps the most alarming fact is that Pennsylvania is losing 1,500 doctors each year due to the skyrocketing cost of malpractice insurance premiums. One local family doctor, who had never been sued, related how his premium went from $75,000 per year to $150,000 per year in one jump. His premium would be $12,000 if his practice were in Virginia.

The next issue is the closure of hospitals. In the 166th District, our only hospital - Mercy Haverford - closed its doors in 2002, and has not reopened.

[Tribune7]

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[Tribune7]

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[KoRn]

"His premium would be $12,000 if his practice were in Virginia."

He should come to VA then. We could always use a few more(good)doctors.

[SauronOfMordor]

Either PA gets tort reform, or patients are going to have a long ambulance ride to Virginia

Considering we have a Dem governor who is in the pockets of the trail lawyers, I'm guessing the latter

[AppyPappy]

We have seen a lot more doctors move into the area. I guess this is the reason.

[Roccus]

Same problem in WV.
IMO if the AMA did a proper job of policing their own, the problem of malpractice ins. would be a lot more manageable.

[Tribune7]

More likely he'll end up in Delaware but Va. is a possibility.

[Tribune7]

More likely he'll end up in Delaware but Va. is a possibility.

[Doogle]

HMMM...A SURPLUS....guess that means a company that can charge outrageous fees for people who THEY select to represent (depending on whether or not they have to actually pay out)...a company who can "select" who uses their service and who they will fight tooth and nail in order to not pay out, who will drop you like a bag of dirt, if you submit a claim, can make Oil company like profits....how interesting
My guess is the politicians who rake in contributions from insurance companies will have to have another commission to deal with another issue THEY have failed to oversee. That way they can cover up their inability to deal with
a growing problem...just like IMMIGRATION,SOCIAL SECURITY,
HOMELAND SECURITY,TAXES,...on and on

Doogle

[yankeedame]

Insurance Companies Have A $6 Billion Surplus

Not for long. I'm sure the lawyers have them in their scopes.

[Jim Noble]

IMO if the AMA did a proper job of policing their own

What exactly does this mean?

It is likely that 75% of practicing obstetricians and 75% of practicing neurosurgeons have been or will be sued. What "policing" do you think would make these numbers better?

And what would that "policing" entail?

And why the AMA? A weak and ineffective lobbying group that less than half of the doctors belong to. Why them?

[Right Wing Assault]

A $6 Billion Surplus

A couple thousand customer trips to the ER would burn that off.

[Erik Latranyi]

And what would that "policing" entail?

There is some blame on all sides. Insurance companies and trial lawyers are part of the equation.

However, doctors have a tendency to look past medical errors and incompetencies. There is an elevation of doctors above the common man within the medical community.

Remember, doctors kill, via mistakes, more people than firearms and automobiles combined each year. And that is without a good reporting system in place. The number could be much, much higher.

[Paleo Conservative]

IMO if the AMA did a proper job of policing their own, the problem of malpractice ins. would be a lot more manageable.

If we got rid of the mentality that any time there is a bad medical outcome the physician should be sue, malpractice insurance would be more manageable. Trial lawyers think the fruits of everyones' labor should belong to them.

[Teacher317]

Not for long. I'm sure the lawyers have them in their scopes.

Insurance companies hire plenty of lawyers to lucrative positions to protect that trove. There's no reason for the ABA to kill that golden goose. The system as it is currently structured allows for volumes of litigation to continue, and the lawyers can keep charging their hourly fees, and occasionally raking in huge contingency awards.

[Tribune7]

If we got rid of the mentality that any time there is a bad medical outcome the physician should be sue, malpractice insurance would be more manageable.

If we got rid of judges of the mentality that what's good for the trial bar is good, that would solve just about all the problems -- i.e. judges willing to dismiss suits that shouldn't have been filed or removing from suits those who are just tangently involved with the matter.

[Tribune7]

IMO if the AMA did a proper job of policing their own,

The AMA is just a professional organization. It has no authority to license or remove a license. The majority of doctors don't even belong to the AMA.

The idea that those incompetent should be kept from practicing medicine is obviously good but do you really think that every doctor or nurse who makes a mistake is "incompetent" and should be driven from the profession?

How many doctors do you think you will have left?

[2banana]

A Philadelphia Mayor/Governor and the trial lawyers run PA - what did you expect?

[Tribune7]

Remember, doctors kill, via mistakes, more people than firearms and automobiles combined each year.

Doctors clearly are threat to this nation's health. Fortunately, the trial bar is doing its best to drive people from this vile profession. Here, in Pennsylvania they have almost succeeded.