By By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune http://www.mailtribune.com State Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, a physician, plans to offer an amendment to a bill subsidizing medical malpractice premiums that would continue to cover primary care and OB/GYN physicians in Ashland. This amendment and another that keeps Grants Pass doctors eligible for the subsidy program are […]

By M.J. Ellington http://www.decaturdaily.com Active doctors have malpractice insurance but not much time to volunteer. Retired doctors have the time but not the insurance. But a bill in the Legislature would help doctors who volunteer for free clinics get malpractice insurance, encouraging retired physicians to donate their time. “If it comes to volunteering or losing […]

By MARY JO LAYTON STAFF WRITER http://www.northjersey.com If you want to see Ridgewood gynecologist Ruth J. Schulze, you’ll have to sign a contract promising never to sue her for malpractice. The veteran physician and a dozen other gynecologists in New Jersey require the contracts as a condition of treatment. Schulze sees it as the only […]

William I. Weston, J.D. Hollywood http://www.sun-sentinel.com In response to a letter about medical malpractice, the issue of malpractice claims is a bit more complex. First, many states tried mandatory arbitration and it worked well. I know because I was deeply involved as an arbitrator in one such program. However, it was the medical profession in […]

By ROGER ALFORD Associated Press Writer http://www.kentucky.com/ Until this campaign season, Dr. Phillip Aaron had never given money in a governor’s race. But the Adair County family physician said he would really like to see Gov. Ernie Fletcher re-elected. So much so that he contributed $250 to help with campaign costs. Doctors have become a […]

By Adam Jadhav ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH http://www.stltoday.com Yet another battle between plaintiffs lawyers and pro-business groups is under way in the Illinois Legislature, this one over the idea of civil damages for mental anguish. The flashpoint is a proposal that would allow family members of someone who has died to seek damages specifically for “grief, […]

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com Government, insurance, pharmaceutical and hospital leaders from Indiana and the nation will gather in Indianapolis tomorrow to take part in an event to shed light on the growing problem of the uninsured. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, Eli Lilly and Co. Chief Executive Officer Sidney Taurel and WellPoint incoming CEO […]

Stanley Feld M.D.,FACP,MACE http://stanleyfeldmdmace.typepad.com I hit a nerve with my criticism of P4P. The reaction came from healthcare professionals who have worked hard to help organizations generate guidelines to improve the quality of care. They recognize that the healthcare system is in trouble. They all are sincere in wanting to help fix the dysfunctional system. […]

By Phil Galewitz Palm Beach Post Staff Writer http://www.palmbeachpost.com The Florida Board of Medicine took far fewer disciplinary actions against the state’s doctors last year compared with 2005, according to a report this month by the Federation of State Medical Boards. Overall, the board penalized 523 doctors last year, compared with 834 in 2005 — […]