Profession
Alabama gets new liability insurer
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 5, 2005
Physicians in Alabama will see their medical liability insurance options increase next year, as Medical Protective has announced that it is writing policies in the state.
"For far too long, Alabama doctors had no real choice when it came to their medical malpractice insurance," said Timothy Kenesey, president and CEO of Medical Protective.
For doctors in Alabama, a new medical liability insurer entering the market is another positive sign of a stabilizing market. The American Medical Association considers the state to be one that is showing signs of a liability crisis, where physicians are forced to retire early, stop seeing high-risk patients or move to a different state because of rising liability premiums.
Medical Assurance Co., which is owned by Birmingham, Ala.-based ProAssurance Corp., reported that it did not raise liability rates in 2006 for three specialties followed by Medical Liability Monitor. Rates for internists, general surgeons and ob-gyns did not change, according to the publication. Medical Assurance currently is the dominant insurer in the state.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/05/prbf1205.htm.
