Submitted by Brian Hurley, Aug 14, 2008 10:44

What has been a "physician's problem" has turned into an "access to care" crisis. I hear first hand from my wife, an RN in the NICU (preemies) at an upstate hopsital, just how overcrowded and stressed we are getting. It is a situation that is getting worse .... quickly. But there is an answer for NYS physicians that many are just learning about. Alternatives to MLMIC, PRI and the other longstanding carriers are here, and they are making a huge difference for physicians across the state.

The unfortunate part is that many docs are not aware of the new options, or are not getting then correct information from some of the socities they belong to. If New York state and the medical socities are truly interested in the patients best interests (access to care), and the physicians best interests (affordable insurance), they should be supporting these new intitiatives. Keep fighting for tort reform and improvements to the system, but help physicians now, so they can stay in buisness. Unless I missed something, we are not going to stop having babies in New York. Programs like the J.M. Woodowrth Risk Retention Group are helping hundreds of physicians and practices find a way to stay here in NY. Let's hope the word spreads.

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