Medical liability case filings, insurance rates decline in West Virginia
West Virginia physicians say tort reform has helped improve the medical liability climate there.
Medical liability case filings dropped 27% between 2002 and 2007, according to statistics compiled by the West Virginia State Medical Assn. The decline came after lawmakers passed several reform measures in 2001 and 2003, including a requirement that plaintiffs file a certificate of merit with medical liability cases, and a $250,000 inflation-adjusted cap on noneconomic damages.
The state medical society also reported that medical liability insurance rates have decreased about 25% on average since 2002 and the state has seen an influx of new doctors.
"These are all strong indicators of the positive effects of tort reform," WVSMA Executive Director Evan Jenkins said.
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