18 states now in deep liability crisis

Quick View. March 17, 2003.

States in crisis:
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Kentucky
Mississippi
Missouri
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Texas
Washington
West Virginia

26 states (plus D.C.) showing problem signs: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming

6 states currently: California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, New Mexico, Wisconsin

This month, the AMA added six states -- Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and North Carolina -- to its list of states in full-blown medical liability crisis. The original list, released in June 2002, comprised 12 crisis states in which physicians are giving up high-risk procedures, leaving the state or retiring. The AMA also moved Hawaii and Rhode Island to the "showing problem signs" category. Last year, they were among the states listed as "OK."

The list was released as the U.S. House of Representatives considers tort reform legislation that includes a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages. The AMA says that such a cap is a crucial component to keeping premiums affordable. Trial lawyers and some consumer advocate groups disagree, saying more insurance regulation is needed to fix the problem.

Source: American Medical Association

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