By now, we should all know that "Gibbering" George is a liar, but is it just possible the he knows so little about medical-malpractice lawsuits that the "babbling" boob should not even try discussing the subject? This is the work of "Cutter" Bill Frist, the Philip Bouhler of the Cheney Administration. (See Hitler and Philip Bouhler). Pure Bullshit from Barbara's favorite miscarriage. See; Open Letter to President Bush http://www.citizens-for-medical-safety.com/cmsupdate.htm The Foundation For Taxpayer & Consumer Rights http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/ See Factsheets on malpractice Even if you support Bush for President in 2004, don't let Congress get away with this crap. It could be you, or a member of your family, who some drunken, drug junkie, quack doctor kills by accident. Bluerhymer ************
Here is what just happened in Texas. The insurance companies got the Republican legislature to amend the Constitution to cap damages at $250,000 in order to prevent an insurance "crisis". Guess what? The insurance companies are stalling, and rates are still going up!!! ............................................. Austin American-Statesman Sunday, January 25, 2004 Malpractice insurance rates slow to fall Insurers say raft of last-minute lawsuits prevented quick rate cuts. By David Pasztor AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF More than four months after voters narrowly approved a controversial change in Texas law that is supposed to lower medical malpractice insurance costs for doctors, most of the state's physicians have not seen their insurance rates go down, and some may face increases. The state's largest malpractice insurer, the Texas Medical Liability Trust, has lowered rates 12 percent for about 11,000 of the state's 38,000 doctors. Other companies are either holding rates steady or have requested rate increases as high as 35 percent from the state Department of Insurance. Supporters of Proposition 12, a constitutional amendment that placed a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damage awards such as pain and suffering in medical lawsuits, say it's still far too early for the law's full effect to play out. Perhaps so, but the early signs are not encouraging, said Dan Lambe, executive director of the nonprofit consumer group Texas Watch, which spearheaded opposition to the amendment. "Promises were made, legal rights were sacrificed, the Texas Constitution was rewritten to appease the insurance industry . . . and someone has to answer why we're not seeing relief," Lambe said. Blaming frivolous lawsuits for rapid increases in malpractice insurance premiums, Gov. Rick Perry, other Republican leaders and the Texas Medical Association threw their political weight behind the amendment. It passed in September with 51.13 percent of the vote. Rising malpractice rates were driving doctors out of Texas and limiting the availability of medical care, supporters argued. The cap on damages would cut down on lawsuits and enable insurance companies to lower rates, they said, by eliminating the fear of multimillion-dollar jury awards for such damages as mental anguish and disfigurement. The caps do not apply to economic damages, such as lost wages and medical costs. The Medical Liability Trust, a nonprofit insurer that last year promised it would lower rates if the amendment passed, did so on Jan. 1, said spokeswoman Dana Leidig. But other companies have not followed suit, in part blaming a surge of lawsuits filed before the law took effect. The Joint Underwriting Association, a state-run pool that serves as a safety net for doctors who can't find affordable insurance elsewhere, asked state regulators for a 35 percent rate increase after the amendment passed. The cap on damages would not affect its rates, the association said in its filing, because most of its policies are for less than the cap. The state Insurance Department turned down the request, and the association, which insures about 2,500 doctors, is trying to determine what it will do next, said General Manager Joe Chilton. Whether there will be a rate increase "remains to be seen. Our actuary thinks (there) should be," Chilton said. GE Medical Protective Services, which insures about 6,700 doctors, has asked regulators for a 19 percent rate increase, saying that the cap on damages will actually save it very little money. That application remains pending. Two other major carriers, the Doctors Co. and American Physician Insurance Exchange, have not lowered rates or requested increases. "We're eager to show that we're responding to the (new laws), but we have a fiduciary responsibility to the company to make sure our rates are well thought out," Insurance Exchange President Maury Magids said. If the new caps seem to be working, Magids said, his company may start lowering rates this summer. Although official statistics are not available, the law's supporters say malpractice claims increased by as much as 300 percent in the months before Proposition 12 passed as lawyers worked to get cases into court under the old rules. "It's going to take a while for the dust to settle and for us to see the world through this new reality," said Jim Hurley, spokesman for the Insurance Department. In the meantime, Hurley said, new companies have contacted the department to inquire about selling malpractice insurance in Texas, raising the possibility of more players and greater competition later this year. -----------------------------------------
"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > Here is what just happened in Texas. The insurance companies got the Republican legislature to > amend the Constitution to cap damages at $250,000 in order to prevent an insurance "crisis". Guess > what? The insurance companies are stalling, and rates are still going up!!! Actually when looked at in detail the Texas legislation looks good. It does not limit economic damages or claims for medical support. It is designed to limit astronomical jury awards for "mental anguish and disfigurement". Australia is going through a medical insurance crisis for similar reasons, and it is having an impact on medical costs and the availability of some services. I would have liked to go into a gradual surgical retirement, continuing to provide cheap minor surgical and endoscopic services to my area, but the costs of indemnity and fear of frivolous actions (even though I have never been sued) were a factor in making retirement abrupt. Peter Moran
