Kentuckiana crisis
Some have questioned statements made about physicians leaving or changing their practices because of the current healthcare environment. Here are some of our local statistics.
According to the Kentucky Medical Association in 2004, Kentucky has lost 36 percent of its practicing neurosurgeons, 29 percent of its general surgeons and 25 percent of its obstetricians.
Based on the Associated Press, January 13, 2004 report, it stated the state's unpredictable legal system rewards excessive litigation and fosters frivolous lawsuits. The physicians' medical liability insurance rates increases in 2002-2003 ranged from an average of 64 percent for obstetricians and internists to greater than 200 percent for some emergency room physicians.
Nearly one-fourth of physicians surveyed by the Kentucky Medical Association indicated that medical liability insurance rate increases make them consider whether to leave the state and 170 physicians said it has affected their ability to perform services such as obstetric care.
Here are a few more statistics and sources:
The Knox County Hospital in Barbourville was forced to close its OB department in 2003 due to escalating medical liability insurance rates. The nearest hospital is 40 miles away. Ashland's Bellefonte Hospital in Greenup County also was forced to close its OB department that same year. The four obstetricians at the hospital had to give up their practice due to high insurance rates. (Kentucky Medical Association)
Kentucky's deteriorating practice environment continues to result in physicians leaving the state or retiring early. Between January 2000 and December 2002, the state has lost more than 1,200 physicians, nearly one-third to neighboring states and another one-third to early retirement. (Louisville Courier-Journal, Nov. 11, 2003)
Two major Kentucky insurers have filed for rate increases from 29 to 57 percent. Health facilities may see increases greater than 150 percent. (Insurance Journal, May 20, 2003)
In Pikeville, three of four obstetricians who deliver babies at Pikeville Methodist Hospital have received medical liability insurance coverage cancellation notices, and the fourth said he might yet receive one. "There's no way that I could do 800 deliveries by myself," said Dr. James Pigg, the lone obstetrician in Pikeville. (Louisville Courier-Journal, Nov. 11, 2003)
Pregnant women in eastern Kentucky will have a much more difficult time finding a doctor to deliver their baby since two hospitals that provided obstetrics — Knox County in Barbourville and Our Lady of Bellefonte in Ashland — have recently closed their doors, according to Dr. Joe Davis, an obstetrics and gynecological specialist in Bowling Green, "In the past few years, it's hit Kentucky significantly, especially in my specialty," said Dr. Davis. (Bowling Green Daily News, February 26, 2004; Kentucky Medical Association)
Many people act as if Indiana is a better state to practice, but again, the statistics do not necessarily support the conclusion. We do have a review panel that malpractice cases are first examined. We do have caps on damages with a patient compensation fund reserve.
The problem is that no one is guarding the reserve fund and therefore Indiana in paying out more claims than any other state per physician as seen in the Kaiser statistics.
[Kaiser statehealthfacts.org: 50 State Comparisons: Number of Paid Medical Malpractice Claims, 2003]
This is all supportive of why we need to be more active in our County and State Societies and rid physicians of the complacency mind-set that got us to this position.
According to the Kentucky Medical Association in 2004, Kentucky has lost 36 percent of its practicing neurosurgeons, 29 percent of its general surgeons and 25 percent of its obstetricians.
Based on the Associated Press, January 13, 2004 report, it stated the state's unpredictable legal system rewards excessive litigation and fosters frivolous lawsuits. The physicians' medical liability insurance rates increases in 2002-2003 ranged from an average of 64 percent for obstetricians and internists to greater than 200 percent for some emergency room physicians.
Nearly one-fourth of physicians surveyed by the Kentucky Medical Association indicated that medical liability insurance rate increases make them consider whether to leave the state and 170 physicians said it has affected their ability to perform services such as obstetric care.
Here are a few more statistics and sources:
The Knox County Hospital in Barbourville was forced to close its OB department in 2003 due to escalating medical liability insurance rates. The nearest hospital is 40 miles away. Ashland's Bellefonte Hospital in Greenup County also was forced to close its OB department that same year. The four obstetricians at the hospital had to give up their practice due to high insurance rates. (Kentucky Medical Association)
Kentucky's deteriorating practice environment continues to result in physicians leaving the state or retiring early. Between January 2000 and December 2002, the state has lost more than 1,200 physicians, nearly one-third to neighboring states and another one-third to early retirement. (Louisville Courier-Journal, Nov. 11, 2003)
Two major Kentucky insurers have filed for rate increases from 29 to 57 percent. Health facilities may see increases greater than 150 percent. (Insurance Journal, May 20, 2003)
In Pikeville, three of four obstetricians who deliver babies at Pikeville Methodist Hospital have received medical liability insurance coverage cancellation notices, and the fourth said he might yet receive one. "There's no way that I could do 800 deliveries by myself," said Dr. James Pigg, the lone obstetrician in Pikeville. (Louisville Courier-Journal, Nov. 11, 2003)
Pregnant women in eastern Kentucky will have a much more difficult time finding a doctor to deliver their baby since two hospitals that provided obstetrics — Knox County in Barbourville and Our Lady of Bellefonte in Ashland — have recently closed their doors, according to Dr. Joe Davis, an obstetrics and gynecological specialist in Bowling Green, "In the past few years, it's hit Kentucky significantly, especially in my specialty," said Dr. Davis. (Bowling Green Daily News, February 26, 2004; Kentucky Medical Association)
Many people act as if Indiana is a better state to practice, but again, the statistics do not necessarily support the conclusion. We do have a review panel that malpractice cases are first examined. We do have caps on damages with a patient compensation fund reserve.
The problem is that no one is guarding the reserve fund and therefore Indiana in paying out more claims than any other state per physician as seen in the Kaiser statistics.
[Kaiser statehealthfacts.org: 50 State Comparisons: Number of Paid Medical Malpractice Claims, 2003]
This is all supportive of why we need to be more active in our County and State Societies and rid physicians of the complacency mind-set that got us to this position.
Today's allergy levels for FLOYDS KNOBS, IN:Thursday - 10.3/HighToday's predominant pollen:Cedar/Juniper, Elm and Birch.
posted by Anonymous at 6:22 AM
1 Comments:
I think it is a good place to start. His bill that is proposed has some innovative ideas.
"They include requiring every citizen who can afford health insurance to buy it or face income tax penalties, converting the money in the state's free health care pool into subsidies to help low-income people buy insurance and creating a way for more businesses and individuals to save on insurance by using pretax dollars."
Romey as a republican has garnered support from Kennedy in this plan. It has some drawbacks in that it doesn't address personal responsibility directly and it doesn't necessarily require patients to be responsible for paying the bills but it certainly is a place to start.
I'd bet that if you took the money that Indiana spends on Medicaid, you could buy a private policy with Anthem, Humana, or United Healthcare and still come out ahead and everyone would have insurance.
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