side note: On Aug. 11, New York Gov. David Patterson signed a bill that effectively froze medical malpractice insurance rates for another year. Gov. Patterson signed a similar bill in 2008. This second rate freeze only further muddles the state’s already complicated medical liability climate. New York is considered one of the most “messed-up” states […]

side note: This article takes a close look at the inefficiency of healthcare in America, and the system which encourages defensive medicine as a means to lowering medical malpractice insurance at the cost of overall efficiency. I know we often hear that our country has the best healthcare in the world, but we typically rank […]

side note: This article collects the opinions of four decision makers and the President of the United States on how medical malpractice insurance plays a role in the overall cost of healthcare in America. It’s important to know what the decision-makers are thinking and what their opinions’ are. This helps us plan for what could […]

side note: Another great article from the people at American Medical News. Indiana and 19 other states employ a pretrial screening panel designed to “weed out” non-meritorious malpractice lawsuits. In this article, the author look at how effective these panels have been in lowering physicians’ medical malpractice insurance premiums and the overall cost of malpractice […]

side note: While not yet a major part of the healthcare debate, the author argues that the high cost of malpractice insurance encourages doctors to practice defensive medicine that costs up to $225 billion in unnecessary annual expenses. We have all experienced this at some point, your doctor tells you that you must do a […]

side note: ISMIE, Illinois’ largest medical malpractice insurance carrier, announced it will not be changing its liability insurance rates for the third year in a row. This is welcome news for a state that consistently ranks as having some of the country’s highest premiums. By Amy Lynn SorrelAmerican Medical Newsamednews.comBut physicians warn that security could […]

side note: A judge ruled that New Hampshire cannot take from the $110 million surplus in the fund that underwrites the state’s medical malpractice insurance to balance its budget. The fund’s board will now decide if the surplus will be returned to policyholders in the form of a dividend. By Norma Love Associated Press seacoastonline.com […]

side note: Healthcare reform is necessary, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of doctors, hospitals and patients. We should make sure that Congress acts in the best interest of all three of these, b/c we need them all for national healthcare to work. BY MARY GREALY Chicago Sun Times Recently, a member of Congress […]

side note: Saying ‘Sorry’ Pays Off for Doctors in Time, Feelings and Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums: At the University of Michigan Health System, where lawyers and doctors say admitting mistakes up front and offering compensation before being sued have brought about remarkable savings in money, time and feelings, apologizing for errors is no longer taboo. […]