American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Advocates Finding Creative Solutions to Deal With Medical Liability Crisis

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Physicians across the United States are faced with the problem of skyrocketing liability insurance premiums. Doctors in many states are forced to choose between moving out of their state or stop practicing medicine. While legislative steps are currently underway to pass tort reform to rectify the situation, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons supports finding alternative solutions that make liability insurance affordable. Just this past week, an alternative insurance product was introduced in Pennsylvania and will soon be available to doctors in other states.

"Excessive liability insurance premiums mean less doctors which translates into less quality time doctors spend with patients," said William Tipton, executive vice president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "In the end, it is the patient who pays the price of decreased access to quality care."

The cost of medical liability in Pennsylvania is so high that many doctors, including orthopaedic surgeons, are reconsidering their decisions to practice medicine in Pennsylvania. In 1998, Southeastern Pennsylvania awarded more money for medical liability cases than the entire state of California. Many liability insurance companies have either left Pennsylvania or become insolvent, leaving many doctors no choice but to purchase coverage through the Joint Underwriting Association where rates are approximately 10 times the rate charged in surrounding states.

After two years of intensive research led by Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (POS) Board member Lewis S. Sharps, MD FACS, Richard Balderston, MD, and the POS, a stable alternative insurance product called Positive Mutual Risk Management Retention Group, Inc., (PMRRG) is now available for orthopaedic surgeons and other specialty physicians. Marsh USA, the nation's largest insurance brokerage and consulting company, is responsible for the captive management and regulatory reporting for PMRRG.

Each specialty group within PMRRG has its own medical review board comprised of physicians within that specialty group that will institute prospective protocols and retrospective reviews of the members. "No one understands surgical risk better than surgeons," stated Sharps, PMRRG president. "We believe that an empowered Medical Review Board will help ensure the long-term viability of this insurance company."

POS is a professional medical specialty organization representing 850 orthopaedic surgeons across Pennsylvania.

The 26,047 member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade ( www.boneandjointdecade.org/us ), the global initiative in the years 2002-2011 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life. President Bush has declared the years 2002-2011 National Bone and Joint Decade in support of these objectives.

Source: PRNewswire