Indo-Asian News Service, Press Trust Of India http://www.hindustantimes.com An Indian American doctor has closed down her practice in the US to dedicate time and attention to a pediatrics centre for impoverished children in Gujarat. The Gujarat-born Roda Patel, who had migrated with her husband to the US in 1963, had a flourishing practice at Northbrook, […]

The Associated Press http://www.pennlive.com HARRISBURG, Pa. — Physicians and other health care providers will not have to pay into a state-run medical malpractice insurance fund for the first quarter of 2008 while Gov. Ed Rendell and legislators joust over what to do with the fund’s surplus. Rendell said Monday that collections on bills for the […]

By SHANNON DININNY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://seattlepi.nwsource.com As rural areas cry out for more doctors, a hospital that serves workers and their families in Eastern Washington farm country could fall victim to a crackdown on boutique hospitals that cater to the urban rich. Doctors at the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center have spent 67 years mending […]

By Larry Wheeler, Gannett News Service http://www.usatoday.com Doctors participating in a new Medicare experiment appear to have done the impossible — delivering better care and saving money at the same time. Using electronic health records and other innovations, physicians at 10 large group practices helped thousands of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes take […]

By Christy Gutowski | Daily Herald Staff The debate regarding limits on medical malpractice awards is heating up again after a Cook County judge struck down a law capping certain damages for patients. At issue is the system in which Illinois holds medical professionals accountable. Illinois used to have a lawsuit-friendly reputation. Doctors and other […]

BY DAVID WENNER Of The Patriot-News Gov. Ed Rendell has given himself more time to persuade legislators to use a cigarette tax to help pay doctors’ medical malpractice insurance costs and also fund his proposal to provide health insurance for all Pennsylvanians. In a letter dated Friday, Rendell extended until March 31 the deadline for […]

By BARRY SHLACHTER Star-Telegram Staff Writer http://www.star-telegram.com Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has ended an 11-year legal dispute with the Texas attorney general’s office by agreeing to a $4.5 million settlement that includes $500,000 payments for indigent care to three hospitals, including Children’s Medical Center Dallas and facilities in Austin and Corpus Christi. […]

http://www.kaisernetwork.org Summaries of recent developments related to medical malpractice in four states appear below. * Indiana: The rates that physicians pay to participate in the state Patient’s Compensation Fund will decrease by 19.1% next year, and the rates that hospitals pay will decrease by 1.3%, according to the Indiana Department of Insurance, the Indianapolis Star […]

http://www.pennlive.com BY DAVID WENNER Of The Patriot-News A debate in Pennsylvania focuses on the future of a program that, since 2003, has spent nearly $1 billion to help keep doctors in the state. The Mcare abatement program pays part of doctors’ medical malpractice insurance expenses. Most of the money comes from a cigarette tax. Amid […]