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Reader comment on:
Doctors Fear Malpractice 'Disaster'

Submitted by Sheldon H. Genack, M.D., Jan 3, 2008 16:25

When faced with increased overhead expenses, most businesses by necessity eventually pass this increased cost to there customers. Not so in the medical profession. Doctors have absolutely no control over what they are reimbursed. Physician fees are set by third party payers (Insurance companies, Government i.e. Medicare and Medicaid) who have systematically cut physician reimbursement year by year despite significant increases in overhead, a significant portion of which is due to malpractice insurance costs. Why not pass the malpractice insurance cost directly to the Insurance carriers. These companies have posted obscene profits over the last few years, not it the millions but believe it or not in the billions! Furthermore, it's known that approximately 80% of medical malpractice is committed by 10% of physicians. If Insurance companies where forced to pay malpractice costs, or a portion there of, logic dictates that these same companies would avoid accepting suspect physicians on there panels. This would have the added benefit of protecting the public from those physicians exhibiting a pattern of recurrent malpractice.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I work in the reinsurance field, and I do pricing analysis on hospitals and physicians groups for excess and umbrella... [MORE]	Insurance Guy	May 6, 2008 15:02
I don't practice medicine in your state (thank the lord), but as a primary care doc, I can tell you... [MORE]	Lynn Jensen	Feb 8, 2008 09:04
I am a patient. American Doctors have so many organizations scattered over specialities. Most of these organizations are controlled by... [MORE]	Madayil Nair	Feb 26, 2008 08:34
It would be great to band together like this comment suggests. There are, however, laws that prohibit or at least... [MORE]	Doc	May 7, 2008 17:10
Tort reform is working better than expected! Politicians, supported by those with something to gain, have passed reforms without considering... [MORE]	cynical	Jan 10, 2008 06:31
When faced with increased overhead expenses, most businesses by necessity eventually pass this increased cost to there customers. Not so...	Sheldon H. Genack, M.D.	Jan 3, 2008 16:25
Mr. Dinalio looks in the wrong direction. He ought to support either of two other possible choices: 1. Force every lawyer... [MORE]	Alfred J. Lemire	Dec 27, 2007 11:39
"In a recent interview, Mr. Dinallo said he would consider a surcharge in order to protect the financial viability of... [MORE]	Peter	Dec 27, 2007 11:31
How is that the Spitzer regime, led by the "genius" himself, is so totally clueless about NY. When malpractice insurers asked... [MORE]	dg	Dec 27, 2007 10:25
MAybe we can get the incompetent doctors to perform lobotomies on the TORT lawyers? As long as the democrat party... [MORE]	chuck higgins	Dec 27, 2007 09:10
Dr Bergman was happy to disclose how much insurance he paid. I hope the reporter asked how much money he... [MORE]	Concerned	Dec 27, 2007 00:21
Your comment comes from someone without knowledge of what has taken place with the economics of medical practice. In downstate... [MORE]	Obstetrician	Dec 27, 2007 22:40
>The solution to lowering insurance rates- stop negligent medical practice. Concerned, There's a better solution, stop practicing medicine in New... [MORE]	Xmas	Dec 28, 2007 02:06
With the cost of malpractice insurance how dare anyone want to impose another fee on MD's. For the fee's that... [MORE]	Linda Rabe	Dec 28, 2007 21:14
Your article concerning possible malpractice insurance surcharges contains one glaring error. Most physician's fees are currently paid by insurance -... [MORE]	David Gitler MD, PhD	Dec 26, 2007 22:59

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Doctors Fear Malpractice 'Disaster'