Care For PA

Most people would agree that there is an insurance crisis in this country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2004 there were close to 1.5 million Pennsylvanians without health insurance. But there also is an insurance crisis of another kind in Pennsylvania that is seriously affecting your ability to receive health care services, even if you have health insurance: "medical liability.�?

"Medical liability�? is the name of the insurance that doctors purchase so that if a patient is harmed by a medical mistake, the insurance company will compensate the patient or family. However, the cost of medical liability insurance in Pennsylvania has grown by more than 100 percent from 2000 to 2003. And because the costs have risen so much, many doctors in the state are re-evaluating their medical practices. Some are choosing early retirement, relocating to other states (where medical liability insurance costs less), and discontinuing certain procedures to lower their insurance costs.

Hospitals, who often pay for part or all of the insurance for doctors, also are feeling the effect of increased costs and fewer doctors and services. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, Pennsylvania's 182 general acute care hospitals reported spending $636 million in medical malpractice expenses in 2004. This means that for every $100 a hospital is paid for patient care, $2.67 goes to pay for physicians' medical liability insurance costs. "With the increased expense in malpractice premiums, funds which are typically available for patient care services and technology are reduced, which impacts our ability to achieve our mission,�? said William R. Walb, president, Hanover Hospital, Hanover. In addition to the added cost, Pennsylvania hospitals are finding it more difficult to find and hire doctors. According to a 2004 survey of Pennsylvania hospitals, more than 1,900 physicians have stopped practicing in hospitals during the last three years.

Any way you look at it, fewer doctors and fewer services mean Pennsylvanians have less access to health care services. And that is an issue that should concern us all.

It's true that over the last few years Pennsylvania lawmakers and Governor Rendell have taken significant steps to make changes to the medical liability system; however, more changes are needed. Most recently, late last year Governor Rendell signed a law that would continue to provide money to doctors to help them pay for a part of their medical liability insurance. This type of short-term assistance is very helpful, but lawmakers also must continue to develop long-term solutions, such as common-sense changes to Pennsylvania's legal system, to keep doctors practicing, hospital services open, and patients healthy.

Future issues of Pennsylvania Hospitals Today will continue to provide you with more information on this important issue.

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