Dear Kitsap County Medical
Society Members and Colleagues,
Many of you have felt the bite of steep rate increases in malpractice
coverage this year. Two of our seventeen ER colleagues have elected to
move out of state for this reason (ER MD coverage increased 70% this year
over last year’s premium). Many family practice doctors have elected to
stop doing obstetrics due to the increased cost of malpractice coverage.
Some obstetricians are considering no longer doing obstetrics. Radiology,
anesthesia and cardiology practices are finding it hard to recruit new
physicians, even from training programs in Washington state. This pattern
is occurring all over the state.
Sen. Deccio has introduced liability reform legislation into the state
senate (SB 5209). This bill is patterned exactly after the malpractice
legislation in California where rates have increased much more slowly. The
key features are a cap on non-economic damages at $250,000, and sliding
scale limit on attorney’s fees. A state constitutional amendment may be
necessary as the state Supreme Court ruled in 1988 that it was the purview
of the jury, not the legislature, to determine awards. Sen. Deccio has
also introduced an amendment that would allow the legislature to set
limits on non-economic damages in liability cases (SJR 8207).
Senator Diane Feinstein has also stated she will introduce a comparable
bill into the US Senate if she gets another democratic sponsor. This move
by a prominent national democrat would put significant pressure on the
state legislators.
You can do several things RIGHT NOW!
Email your state senator and urge co-sponsorship of both SB 5209 and SJR
8207. (See the legislative email table enclosed or go to
www.leg.wa.gov to
find your district & legislators.)
Email your state representatives and urge introduction and passage of
comparable bills in the house.
Talk to your patients about the impact on medical access HERE and NOW by
the malpractice insurance increases that have already occurred.
Talk to your patients about the impact of runaway liability premiums in
other areas in their lives such as local government, schools, athletics,
community service organizations, etc.
****************************************************************************** March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - Dr. Green will be presenting a
talk on Colon Cancer screening Tuesday Feb 25th, 6pm at the Silverdale
Hotel. This talk is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and intended
for ACS Ambassadors and Allies but public is welcome. Advance registration
is requested by calling 1-800-729-3880 Option 2.
Medicare will now cover a screening colonoscopy
every ten years for average risk patients
Kitsap ColoRectal Surgery, Johnny B. Green, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Eastwood Building, 2528 Wheaton Way, #103, Bremerton, WA 98310
(360) 377-4717 -- (360) 377-4134 fax
www.kitsapcolorectal.com
