Profession
N.Y. doctors see 14% hike in medical liability insurance rates
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 23, 2007
The New York State Insurance Dept. in July announced a 14% across-the-board increase in medical liability insurance rates that applies to every insurer in the state, a move physicians fear will worsen existing access-to-care shortages. State law requires the insurance department to set rates based on carriers' proposals.
At the same time, however, Medical Society of the State of New York officials praised Gov. Eliot Spitzer's decision to put insurance regulators in charge of a task force to find out what is driving high medical liability costs. The task force will report back to the governor by the end of the year.
MSSNY President Robert B. Goldberg, DO, said he hopes the group will "finally and comprehensively" address the issue. But he warned that neurosurgeons, ob-gyns and orthopedic surgeons and ultimately patients will be hardest hit by the increase.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/07/23/prbf0723.htm.
