News: Medical Malpractice Insurance and Physician Practices

http://www.baltimoresun.com
Maryland Insurance Commissioner Ralph S. Tyler would like to see the amount that doctors pay out of pocket for medical malpractice insurance kept as low as possible. So would Medical Mutual, the physician-owned company that is by far the state’s largest malpractice insurer. But somehow the two are deeply at odds over how to accomplish [...]

http://www.ama-assn.org
Pa. medical liability climate improves, governor says – New DEA rule allows extended scripts
Pennsylvania tort reforms helped reduce medical liability claims payouts by the state’s patient compensation fund by 50% between 2003 and 2007, Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced in October.
Key measures enacted under the 2002 Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act [...]

The case heads to the state Supreme Court, which twice before declared noneconomic damage limits unconstitutional.
By Amy Lynn Sorrel, AMNews staff
The Illinois cap on noneconomic damages in medical liability cases hangs in the balance, now for the third time.
A trial court struck down the award limit as unconstitutional. A number of other state tort reforms [...]

http://www.businesswire.com
A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-� to American Physicians Insurance Company (API). A.M. Best also has assigned an ICR of “bbb-� to API’s parent holding company, American Physicians Service Group, Inc. (APS) (both of Austin, TX) (NASDAQ: AMPH). The outlook [...]

http://daily-journal.com
It was one of those overlooked stories easily passed over in the continuing drumbeat for nationalized healthcare.
A Cook County judge ruled that an Illinois law attempting to limit damages for medical malpractice is unconstitutional. Two years ago, amid a crisis in malpractice insurance and costs, Illinois lawmakers passed a law that put a cap on [...]

David Royse | The Associated Press
Four years ago, many Florida doctors threatened to quit their practices because their malpractice-insurance premiums were spiraling out of control.
Some doctors retired early, some moved out of state. A few briefly walked off the job. Others dropped their insurance and hoped for the best.
“The rates were going up just really [...]

With doctors retiring, local hospitals take steps to prevent gaps in care
By Cheryl Powell Beacon Journal medical writer
Notice a few more gray hairs these days when you visit your doctor?
Not on you — on the doctor.
Be warned: Those silvery strands could be a sign of a physician shortage on the horizon.
Various studies are predicting a [...]

Jacksonville Business Journal – by Dave Strupp Staff Writer
The Mayo Clinic is investing $30 million over five years to expand its neurosciences department with more space, staff and equipment.
The department will add up to 13,000 square feet of clinical space in its location on San Pablo Road, and will also occupy space in Mayo’s new [...]