News in brief - Dec. 19, 2005

Urging tort reform for the District - Wis. governor vetoes noneconomic damages caps in liability cases - Alabama to boost Medicaid pay

Urging tort reform for the District

In Washington, D.C., physicians pressed for local tort reform at a recent "white coat" rally, sponsored by the Medical Society of the District of Columbia. Mayor Anthony Williams addressed more than 50 doctors gathered to support the Health Care Reform Act of 2005 on the morning of medical liability hearings at the D.C. City Council.

"Our medical malpractice insurance system in the District of Columbia is in fact on life support," Williams said. "Our doctors are paying the highest rates in the nation. Our patients are losing access, and our doctors are losing hope."

Damian Alagia, MD, an ob-gyn and MSDC president, spoke on behalf of the society's nearly 1,700 physician members. "The disturbing trend of doctors leaving must be reversed, and supporting Mayor Williams' legislation is the first step in that direction," Alagia said.

Other speakers included Walter Faggett, MD, president of the Medico Chirurgical Society, on behalf of minority physicians; Peter Lavine, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who was forced to move his practice out of Washington, D.C., because of high liability premiums; Edgar Potter, MD, medical staff president at Greater Southeast Community Hospital and a practicing rheumatologist; and John Herbert Niles, MD, an area ob-gyn. More information is online (www.msdc.org/issuesAdvocacy/2005Campaign.shtml).

Wis. governor vetoes noneconomic damages caps in liability cases

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed new caps on pain and suffering damages, declaring they were not different enough from previous efforts that did not pass the state Supreme Court's constitutional test. "Approving a law that would quickly be overturned would not do anyone any good," he said in a statement.

The malpractice bill would have capped limits at $450,000 for adult plaintiffs and $550,000 for plaintiffs 18 or younger. Susan Turney, MD, CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society called the veto "disappointing."

"We're very concerned that the absence of caps will harm Wisconsin's historically stable medical liability environment," she said in a statement.

Alabama to boost Medicaid pay

Alabama will bid happy new year to physicians with an increase in Medicaid pay in January 2006. The federally approved increase will be the first raise in five years. The University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Southern Alabama will contribute money they've received from the state to the Medicaid program to fund the increase. For every 30 cents the state spends on Medicaid, the federal government pays 70 cents.

The teaching hospitals were experiencing difficulty attracting doctors and were motivated to find a solution. "We also saw a lot of unique specialty services not available, as I'm sure is the case in other settings," said David Hoidal, chief operating officer for the UAB health system. Pay raises will benefit physicians throughout the state, he said. Officials do not yet know how much rates will increase, and it will vary depending on the schools' contributions.