Profession
Medical liability claims down in Ohio
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 25, 2008
Ohio doctors say a report from state insurance regulators shows that medical liability reforms, such as a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in most cases, are working.
The annual review by Ohio's Dept. of Insurance cited a 21% drop in lawsuit filings between 2005 and 2006. In addition, 80% of the 4,004 closed claims that were analyzed ended without payouts to plaintiffs, consistent with 2005, the January study said.
Of the remaining claims that resulted in a judgment or settlement, average payment amounts inched up 7% from $269,374 in 2005 to $288,080 in 2006. The average cost of defending and investigating medical liability claims rose by 5%, from $24,443 per claim in 2005 to $25,672 in 2006.
Despite those increases, doctors said the report offers good news. Reforms are "having a positive effect on stabilizing the medical liability situation in Ohio," said Tim Maglione, Ohio State Medical Assn. senior director of government relations. Medical liability insurance premiums also are on the decline, he added.
Maglione said the slight jump in average claims payments and expenses closely followed inflation rates.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/25/prbf0225.htm.
