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OK... here's that info on closed or limited hospital services due to the problems in Pennsylvania.

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The majority of this list was created by the PA Medical Society Alliance, with special thanks to the hard working Donna Baver Rovito.

Allegheny County:
Allegheny General Hospital reports a three month wait for screening mammograms due to a shortage of radiologists to read results.
Magee Women's Hospital reports a two month wait for routine mammograms and a five day to three week wait for women with palpable masses.
Magee's Breast Center, which does 40,000 routine mammograms and 17,000 additional procedures at six sites per year, has been unsuccessfully attempting to recruit radiologists to read mammograms for two years.
Pittsburgh Mercy Health System is ceasing ambulance services provided from four bases by Mercy Mobile Care in July, 2002, citing, in part, substantial increases in professional medical liability and malpractice insurance premiums.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's mini-fellowship in endovascular surgery, offered to practicing physicians throughout the country, has been unable to fill its slots due to the inability of applicants to secure malpractice insurance in Pennsylvania for a three month period, according to Vascular Chief Michael Makaroun, who further notes that UPMC's fellowship charges no tuition while similar programs can charge up to $30,000 for three months of training.

Berks County:
Dr. Nabil Muallen, Reading Hospital, reports delivering a baby whose mother had all of her prenatal care in Philadelphia, but who had to find alternative care 60 miles aware because her 37 year-old obstetrician was forced to give up OB to reduce liability premiums.
Reading Hospital is unable to obtain, at any price, malpractice coverage exceeding state minimum requirements up to $10 million, but can purchase coverage OVER $10 million, creating a de facto $10 million "deductible" which would have to be covered by the hospital's own reserves.
Grand View Hospital's premiums increased from $900,000 in 2000 to $1.8 million in 2001 to $3 million this year, according to CEO Stuart Fine, who says that comes to more than $8,200 a day or $350 an hour. Fine further noted that 80% of the physicians who practice in their community have liability insurance policies which will expire Dec. 31, 2002.
Interventional Radiology at Doylestown Hospital is having difficulty recruiting radiologists because of liability and low reimbursements.

Bradford County:
A 100% increase in malpractice premiums has forced the Guthrie Clinic in Sayre to delay implementation of computerized order entry, computerized prescription writing and modernization of surgical areas, all of which would enhance patient safety and medical quality, according to CEO Kevin Carey, M.D.

Bucks County:
Doylestown Hospital lost money in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due in part, to increased malpractice premiums, and expects to lose money again in 2002 as malpractice coverage has increased from $1.9 million for 2001 to $4.8 million for 2002, according to CEO Richard Reif.
Doylestown Hospital reports that only five of eight orthopedic surgeons on staff are able to take ER call, as one large three-doctor group can no longer perform surgery due to loss of insurance coverage and inability to pay a 160% increase to the JUA.
Doylestown Women's Health Center, Doylestown Hospital, experienced malpractice increases from $50,000 to $80,000 in the past year and was forced to lay off employees as a result of the increase, according to Ob/Gyn Jean Fitzgerald.
Interventional Radiology at Doylestown Hospital is having difficulty recruiting radiologists because of liability and low reimbursements.
Doylestown Hospital's VP and Chief Medical Officer Edwin Knopf reports that he used to get 12-15 inquiries a month from physicians interested in coming to the hospital. Now he doesn't get any.
Grand View Hospital's premiums increased from $900,000 in 2001 to $1.8 million in 2002, according to CEO Stuart Fine.
Grand View Hospital has closed the Medic 152 ambulance substation on Bethlehem Pike; officials cite rising malpractice premiums coupled with a downtown in reimbursements. The substation alone would have lost $130,000 this year if it had been kept open.
Pulmonologist Donna Hogue expects to have difficulty replacing associate Dr. Lorie Loreman when she leaves in June.
St. Luke's Quakertown lost money in 2001, due, in part, to high malpractice premiums.
St. Luke's Quakertown no longer has a gynecological surgeon on staff.
St. Luke's Quakertown has lost six specialists since last year.
St. Mary's Medical Center, Middletown, estimates that 13 physicians have left or scaled back services because of malpractice insurance.

Chester County:
Brandywine Hospital was forced to close its Level II Trauma Center on June 4, 2002 due to a lack of trauma surgeons, according to CEO R. Alan Larson, who cited "soaring malpractice premiums that are driving surgeons out of the state or into retirement." Severely injured patients must be transported to Philadelphia or Lancaster, about 30 miles away. The hospital says the closure is temporary and is actively recruiting trauma surgeons to replace the University of Pennsylvania Health System surgeons who had previously staffed the unit until that relationship with Penn ended earlier in June.
CAT Fund physician payment figures for 1997 showed 1,147 practicing physicians in Chester Countyfor 2000, only 770 physicians in Chester County paid CAT fund premiums.
Liability costs and reimbursement shortfalls forced closure of the Medic 92 Advanced Life Support Service, based at Paoli Hospital and serving all or part of five boroughs and townships in Chester County, according to Leland White, President of Main Line Health.
Brandywine Hospital lost $6 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part, to increasing malpractice costs.
Jennersville Regional Hospital (formerly Southern Chester Medical Center) lost $4.5 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part, to increasing malpractice premiums.
Medic 95 ALS unit is being closed at Phoenixville Hospital this October, in part due to liability costs as well as poor reimbursements. Consequently, the community will be at a much greater risk because the ER will have less ancillary staff to help decrease waits and treat cases effectively.
Brandywine Hospital lost $6 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part, to increasing malpractice costs.
Jennersville Regional Hospital (formerly Southern Chester Medical Center) lost $4.5 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part, to increasing malpractice premiums.
Phoenixville Hospital will close the Medic 95 ALS unit, due in part to liability costs as well as poor reimbursements. Consequently, the community will be at a much greater risk because the ER will have less ancillary staff to help decrease waits and treat cases effectively.
Brandywine Hospital has lost one of its two neurosurgeons, according to hief of staff Dr. James Holstein; he was forced to retire due to liability costs.

Clearfield Hospital:
Only two general surgeons remain on staff at Clearfield Hospital.

Columbia County:
Bloomsburg Hospital lost $1.5 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part, to increasing malpractice premiums, and expects to lose another $1 million in 2002, according to CEO Robert Spinelli.
Bloomsburg Hospital was hit with a 40% malpractice premium increase, hiking costs by $300,000 in 2001.
Bloomsburg Hospital laid off eight employees and consolidated and eliminated several other positions to offset losses incurred, in part, by increasing malpractice premiums.

Crawford Hospital:
Meadville Medical Center's Department of Ob/Gyn reports the impending retirement of a part-time Ob/Gyn at the end of the year due to malpractice premiums, leaving only two fulltime Ob/Gyn's and two family practitioners who deliver babies on staff, according to the chairman of the Ob/Gyn Department.

Cumberland County:
Holy Spirit Hospital, E. Pennsboro Township, is expecting a 100% malpractice premium increase, according to risk management director Franchesca Charney.

Dauphin County:
Pinnacle-Health System is paying $4.1 million for malpractice coverage in 2002, up from $2 million in 2001, according to senior VP Chris Markley, who also notes that the hospital's insurer, MIIX, is exiting the PA market and the hospital must find a new insurer by Dec. 31, 2002.
Pinnacle-Health System will eliminate two vice president positions, support services and gifts and endowments, in order to reduce increased costs caused in part by a 107% increase in malpractice premiums, according to Chris Markley, senior vice president of community and government relations.
A reduced number of qualified neurosurgeons and spine surgeons in Central PA has resulted in a minimum 3 to 6 month wait to see a physician for evaluation and surgical treatment of back and neck pain due to disc disease, according to the Dept. of Neurosurgery at PSU Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
PSU Milton Hershey Medical Center Dept. of Ob/Gyn reports despite large ad campaigns, only three applications for our three positions have been received.

Delaware County:
Delaware County Memorial Hospital has lost one third of its operating staff.
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, which includes Albert Einstein Medical Center, Moss Rehab, Belmont Behavioral Health and Germantown Community Health Services, announced layoff of 127 workers and elimination of 52 vacant positions due to a budget shortfall created by rising medical malpractice premiums, according to President and CEO Martin Goldsmith. This follows layoffs of 34 top managers and elimination of 21 vacant positions in November, 2001.
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network has lost 17 physicians since July 1, 2001 because of high insurance costs, according to CEO Goldsmith, resulting in decreased admissions and $10 million to $15 million in lower revenue for the system. They are having difficulty recruiting physicians to fill the vacancies.
Main Line Health Systems reports a malpractice premium increase of $2 million this past year.
Main Line Health Systems reports that their liability costs will be $11 million this year, an increase of 90% over the past two years, noting that "money that would otherwise go toward hiring and retaining staff, buying new technology and developing and retaining health services and programs" would be used to cover the increase One member hospital of Main Line Health Systems lost 30% of its Ob/Gyns in the past 18 months.
Main Line Health has closed the Medic 92 Advanced Life Support Unit, due in part to higher malpractice costs.
Mercy Community Hospital, Havertown, is closing impatient services and eliminating 400 jobs, while parent company Mercy Health System cites soaring malpractice premiums as one of the reasons for the decision.
Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital will terminate 23 paramedics covering Haverford, Marple and Newtown Townships on October 23, 2002, according to paramedic services director Larry Gentile, citing rising malpractice premium costs and a decline in reimbursement revenues for the decision.
One member hospital of Main Line Health Systems lost 30% of its OB/Gyns in the past 18 months.

Erie County:
Hamet Medical Center's malpractice premiums increased from $2 million in 2001 to $6 million in 2002.
MetroHealth Medical/Osteopathic Hospital, a 102 bed facility, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to CEO Debra Dragavan, citing tripled malpractice premiums, staff salaries and lower reimbursements as reasons for its $15 to $18 million debt.

Fayette County:
Uniontown Hospital, a rural community hospital, has lost 3 of its 5 orthopedic surgeons, according to Uniontown Hospital CEO Paul Bacharach.
When Laurel Highlands Ob/Gyn, which formerly delivered about half the babies in Fayette County, stops delivering babies on Nov. 1, 2002, Uniontown Hospital will have only four remaining obstetricians, according to CEO Paul Bacharach.
One of the orthopedic surgeons who left PA for Maryland retained the same malpractice insurance carrier, and saw his PA premium of $80,000 per year drop to $18,000 per year in Maryland.

Franklin County:
Chambersburg Hospital's maternity clinic for low income and uninsured women is closing due to soaring malpractice rates.

Lackawanna County:
Nine of 12 orthopedic surgeons no longer take trauma call in Scranton.
Ten ER physicians at Community Medical Center, Scranton, were forced to turn to the hospital for assistance in covering increased liability premiums after losing their insurance, and may be forced to stop practicing when the hospital assistance runs out, causing closure of the Emergency Room.
Three of five trained vascular surgeons in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area have left, according to Dr. William Host, President of Wyoming Valley Health Care System, and the remaining two will most likely close their practice on December 31, 2002.
Community Medical Center has been unable to attract a new orthopedic spin surgeon to Northeastern Pennsylvania, according to Orthopedic Surgeon Harry Schmaltz.
Community Medical Center has been unable to attract a new orthopedic spine surgeon to Northeastern Pennsylvania, according to Orthopedic Surgeon harry Schmaltz.
Nine of 12 orthopedic surgeons no longer take trauma call in Scranton.
Ten ER physicians at Community Medical Center, Scranton, were forced to turn to the hospital for assistance in covering increased liability premiums after losing their insurance, and may be forced to stop practicing on Nov. 30, 2002 , causing closure of the Emergency Room and Trauma Center.
In Scranton, 12 surgeons have retired or died in the past five years and none have been recruited to take their place, according to a CNN interview with Dr. Charles Bannon.
Pediatrician Marie Breslin, West Chester, stopped practicing medicine in her 30.
Pain Management Specialist Debra DeAngelo, Pain Management Specialists, has announced that the practice will close on Jan. 31, 2003 and they will leave PA. Her clinic is the only comprehensive pain management clinic in Lackawanna County.
Pediatrician Marie Breslin, West Chester, stopped practicing medicine in her 30.
Pain Management Specialist Debra DeAngelo, Pain Management Specialists, has announced that the practice will close on Jan. 31, 2003 and they will leave PA. Her clinic is the only comprehensive pain management clinic in Lackawanna County.
Pain Management Specialist Nicholas DeAngelo, Pain Management Specialists, has announced that the practice will close on Jan. 31, 2003 and they will leave PA. Her clinic is the only comprehensive pain management clinic in Lackawanna County.

Lancaster County:
Lancaster General Health Systems malpractice premiums increased from $2.3 million in 2001 to $5.3 million in 2002, to $9 million when it renewed coverage April 1, 2002.
WellSpan Health System, although self-insured, has total malpractice costs of $6.3 million in 2002.

Labanon County:
Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon, was forced to join a coalition of community hospitals to obtain coverage, but will likely face an 80% premium increase anyway, according to VP of Finance Bob Richards.

Lehigh County:
Sacred Heart Hospital lost money in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due in part to increased malpractice premiums.

Luzerne County:
Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, which operates the former Hazleton State General Hospital and the former Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center, has announced layoffs of 25-30 workers due, in part, to a premium increase from $510,000 to $1.4 million for the Broad Street Campus and from $500,000 to $800,000 for the Church Street Campus, according to CEO Bernard Rudegeair, who also noted that the hospitals face a $3 million deficit by year's end.
Wyoming Valley Health Care System eliminated 52 positions on May 1, 2002, including nurses, accountants, and clerical staff, according to hospital President Dr. William Host. This follows the elimination of 23 managerial positions in April, 2002. These measures are expected to save the hospital $3.5 million, reducing a standing $10 million deficit, due in part to malpractice insurance premium increase, according to Dr. Host.

Mifflin County:
Lewistown Hospital eliminated 30 positions to save money on Jan. 26, 2002.

Monroe County:
In 1992, there were 10 orthopedic surgeons taking trauma call at Pocono Medical Center, the only major facility serving the Pocono's many busy ski areas; now there are only five taking trauma call.
Pocono Medical Center lost money in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due in part to increased malpractice costs.
Pocono Medical Center is expecting its malpractice premiums to jump from $1.2 million to $3.4 million when its current policy expires in August, according to CEO Eugene LeBlond, who also noted that the insurance crisis has held up approval for the hospital's strategic plan to meet the growing needs of the county.

Montgomery County:
Abington Memorial Hospital's malpractice premiums have increased from $4 million in 2000, to $7 million in 2001, to $11.2 million in 2002, and are expected to soar to $20 million on July 1, 2002, according to CEO Dick Jones.
Abington Memorial Hospital's Ob/Gyn Residency program reports that of three graduates in 2002, one is moving to New York, one to NJ, and one is continuing fellowship training in PA.
Abington Memorial Hospital reports a 14-16 week wait for screening mammograms because of too few radiologists trained in reading mammograms as a result of high liability costs and low reimbursements.
Central Montgomery Medical Center, Hatfield Township, lost money in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due in part to increased liability premiums.
Elkins Park Hospital lost $5 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part to increased malpractice costs.
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center reports recent loss of one orthopedic surgeon, one ENT specialist and one general surgeon as well, with no new applications for staff privileges in the past year.
Abington Memorial Hospital has already lost two of its seven neurosureons; two of the remaining five are currently interviewing in other states; and the hospital could lose six of its nine orthopedic surgeons, according to Richard Montalbano, vice president for management services.
Abington Memorial Hospital could be forced to close its trauma center in January if more of its trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are forced to leave PA when their current coverage expires and they receive their malpractice premium increases for 2003.
Physicians at Lankenau Hospital report a five month wait to see a cardiologist since half of the staff has move or retired.
Montgomery Hospital reports extreme difficult in recruiting radiologists to replace departing group members.

Montour County:
Geisinger Medical Center in Danville has announced layoffs of 600 employees, including administration and 20 full and part-time physicians, resulting partly from malpractice premium increases, which cost the center $43 million last year and will rise 25-30% this year.
Geisinger Medical Center lost $1.6 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due in part to malpractice increases.
Patients at Geisinger Medical Center's Bloomsburg Ob/Gyn clinic are now required to have deliveries and surgical procedures done at Geisinger's main campus in Danville, about 15 miles away, according to COO Frank Trembulak, who said the move was necessary to combat rising liability costs.

Northampton County:
With the departure of Neurosurgeons Barry Pollack and Gerald Zupruk, there will be no neurosurgeons on staff at Easton Hospital.
Easton Hospital lost money in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council, due, in part, to increasing malpractice premiums.
St. Lukes Hospital, Bethlehem, was hit with a $5.7 million malpractice premium for 2001/02, up from $2.4 million in 1999/2000 following a $100 million award by a Philadelphia jury.

Philadelphia County:
Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, which delivers 1,100 babies each year, reports a loss of eight Ob/Gyn physicians, from 14 to only 6, according to Ob/Gyn Department Chair Linda Dunn.
Drexel University, which manages several health care institutions, will lose its malpractice coverage in November, 2002, according to President Constantine Papakakis, who says their insurance carrier "won't even talk about renewal."
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network was forced to eliminate 234 jobs due to rising malpractice costs.
Albert Einstein Medical Center's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery reports that only two of its past nine graduates are practicing in PA, and that the current two graduates are both leaving PA, citing liability issues as a major reason, according to Residency Chairman John Handal, MD.
Jefferson Health System reports elimination of 179 jobs to offset expenses caused in part by malpractice premiums.
Jefferson Health System reports malpractice premium increases from $30 million in 2001 to $46 million in 2002, and expects an increase to $50 million in 2003.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital reports a 2-3 month wait for mammograms.
Thomas Jefferson University Medical College has eliminated four Ob/Gyn physician positions due to malpractice premiums. "Premiums average $100,000 for each Ob/Gyn, and its too expensive for the department to maintain that many fullltime ob/gyn positions," according to Jefferson spokeswoman Phyllis Fisher.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals are eliminating a total of 270 positions, including those lost with the closing of Methodist Hospital's maternity ward, effective June 30, 2002, a result of the hospital group needing to "absorb a doubling" of its malpractice insurance premium, according to VP and COO Alan L. Brechbill.
MCP Hahnemann Hospital reports a two month wait for mammograms.
Tenet Health System's MCP Hahnemann Hospital lost $11.8 million in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council.
Mercy Hospital will close its maternity ward effective Aug. 23, 2002; CEO Bernadette Mangan cited rapidly rising malpractice premiums as one of the reasons for the closure, noting that the move will save the hospital $2.5 million.
Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown is having trouble recruiting Ob/Gyn physicians to meet their growing needs, according to spokeswoman Sister Donna Watto.
Methodist Hospital closed its labor and delivery department, which has been operating since 1892 on June 1, 2002 in light of projected malpractice premium increase from $3 million to $6 million in 2002, according to CEO James Robinson. Methodist Hospital delivered almost 1,100 babies last year.
Methodist Hospital will eliminate 91 full and part-time positions as a result of closing its maternity ward.
Mercy and Methodist Hospitals, community hospitals serving South Philadelphia, have lost neurosurgical, obstetric and plastic surgical services entirely, according to the Politically Active Physicians Association (PAPA), which further notes that only one orthopedic group of three surgeons, one ENT group of two surgeons, and one urology group of two physicians remain to serve the two hospitals' emergency rooms, as compared to three years ago, when there were three ENT groups, three urology groups, three plastic surgeons and five obstetric practices, as well as neurosurgery coverage from two groups.
Temple University Hospital has lost four of seven staff neurosurgeons in the past three years, according to Department Chair Dr. Raj Narayan, who is himself leaving in July, 2002.
Temple University Health System's malpractice premiums have increased from $6 million 10 years ago to $40 million in 2002.
Temple University Health System is having trouble recruiting neurosurgical residents because "they know there's virtually no chance of starting a practice here because of the medical malpractice insurance costs," according to CEO Joseph W. Marshall III.
Gastroenterologists at Tenet Parkview Hospital no longer do hospital consults because of liability.
University of Pennsylvania Health System reports $10-$20 million increase in premiums for 2002.
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania reports a 2-3 month wait for screening mammograms due to a radiologist shortage.
In the last two years, Philadelphia and its suburbs have lost seven out of 39 maternity units. "Not one hospital in South Philadelphia is delivering babies," says Joanne Fischer, executive director of the Maternity Care Coalition, a Philadelphia advocacy group.
Philadelphia malpractice awards and settlements make up nearly half of the record $348 million paid out by a state fund in the last 12 months.
Not one hospital in South Philadelphia is delivering babies, says Joanne Fischer, executive director of the Maternity Care Coalition, a Philadelphia advocacy group.

Washington County:
Monongahela Valley Hospital reports malpractice premium increases from $664,000 in 2000 to $745,000 in 2001 to $1.1 million in 2002.
Washington Hospital has announced that it will delay a much needed $54 million expansion project due, in part, to the looming malpractice insurance crisis, according to President and CEO Telford W. Thomas.

Wayne County:
Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, reports a 60% increase in malpractice premiums, according to CEO David Hoff.

Wyoming County:
Tyler Memorial Hospital, a 60-bed facility in Tunkhannock,, has reported a $1 million possible loss by June 30, 2002 due to reduced patient levels and liability insurance issues, according to hospital President William Milligan, who further noted that two staff physicians left the area in the past year, which probably contributed to lower patient levels.
Family Practitioner Edward Zurad, Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, named 2002's Pennsylvania Family Physician of the Year by the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, will lose his insurance coverage at the end of the year when Princeton Insurance drops PA physicians coverage, and is considering leaving the state because he cannot find affordable alternative coverage.

York County:
York Hospital reports $4 million malpractice premiums in 2001, with an expected 40-60% increase in 2002 Memorial Hospital's malpractice premiums have tripled from $500,000 two years ago to $1.5 million this year, according to CEO Sally Dixon.

Eastern Pennsylvania:
From 1997 to 2000, the number of obstetricians in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties dropped from 1,145 to 939, an 18% decreaseand those numbers are from before malpractice premiums began their 21-60% increases in January, 2001, according to figures from the PA Medical Malpractice CAT Fund and the US Census Bureau. The number of orthopaedic surgeons from the same area and time frame decreased 20%, from 568 to 453 In January, 2002, 17 southeastern PA hospitals were forced to restrict services as a result of lack of physician coverage, according to Andrew Wigglesworth, president of the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council, which represents 150 hospitals and healthcare systems in PA, NJ and parts of Delaware.

Western Pennsylvania:
Hospitals in the 27-county Western PA region average 71% malpractice premium increases over the past 12 months.

Statewide Information:
The American Medical Association (AMA) identifies Pennsylvania as one of 12 states where the malpractice climate has reached "crisis proportions".
Pennsylvania has been identified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as one of nine "Red Hot Alert States" where care is most at risk due to the medical liability insurance crisis.
Pennsylvania hospitals are paying more than $180 million in additional premiums compared to one year ago, according to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of PA.
One third of Pennsylvania's hospitals lost money in 2001, according to the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council.
Six percent of PA's hospitals have been forced to obtain insurance from the Joint Underwriters Authority (JUA), the insurer of last resort, at rates 50% higher than commercial insurers.
Throughout Pennsylvania, 20 mammography clinics closed in 2001 due to a shortage of radiologists trained to read mammograms. According to national figures, only 4% of radiologists train to read mammograms due to the extremely high incidence of litigation, high cost of malpractice coverage and low reimbursements.
There are 30% fewer neurosurgeons in PA than in 1998, according to the neurosurgical specialty society.
Malpractice litigation is responsible nationwide for $5 billion in new health care costs annually, according to the American Association of Health Plans, equivalent to the cost of health coverage for two million Americans.
Of combined high-risk specialties, including orthopaedics, ob/gyn and neurosurgery, 83-87% of residents and fellows trained in Pennsylvania are settling outside of the state, according to the PA Orthopaedic Society.
Nearly two third of the hospitals in PA report that physicians are retiring early, curtailing practices and relocating as a result of increasing liability costs, according to a November 2002 survey of 150 hospitals and health systems, released by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of PA (HAP).
The total cost of medical liability coverage has increased 215% over the past 12 months and 25% of hospitals reported premium increases exceeding 300%, according to the HAP survey.
One third of PA hospitals reported closing, temporarily closing or otherwise limiting services due to physicians loss and rising liability premiums, according to the HAP.
HAP reports that 75 hospitals services have been discontinued over the past 12 months among its members, with specialty services like obstetrics, orthopedics, general and neurosurgery most severely affected.
HAP reports that more than half of hospitals are having difficulty recruiting physicians to fill vacant positions, and the members of active medical staffs have been denied commercial liability insurance and forced to find alternate coverage in the past 12 months.