Copyright (c) 2003 The Times Leader
| September 10, 2003 Section: BUSINESS Edition: MAIN Page: 1C REPORT REBUTS DOCTORS A FEDERAL OFFICE DISPUTES CLAIMS THAT PENNSYLVANIA IS LOSING MEDICAL CARE OPPORTUNITIES. M. PAUL JACKSON WILKES-BARRE - Pennsylvania has seen a steady growth in orthopedic surgeries during the past five years despite physician claims that doctors are leaving the state because of rising liability insurance costs, according to a government study released two weeks ago. According to the General Accounting Office report, physician organizations have inflated the country's medical liability insurance crisis. The August 2003 study is similar to a June 2003 GAO report but is more critical of doctors.Physician groups savaged the study, claiming the GAO utilized inaccurate information. Representatives of a Scranton-based consumer group applauded the report Tuesday, saying the findings support their claims that doctors have deliberately misled the public about medical malpractice woes. ``It's the myth they have attempted to create,'' said Committee for Justice for All President Robert Powell of the doctors' claims. ``What happened here is that the truth came out, and they don't like it.'' Powell held a press conference Tuesday in front of the Luzerne County Courthouse to discuss the report. The GAO a branch of Congress, investigates and analyzes public funds and government activities. Despite physician claims that rising medical liability insurance premiums are driving doctors out of the state and the profession, most patients have not suffered a loss of medical services, according to the study. The report analyzed malpractice data in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Florida, Nevada and West Virginia. Medical liability insurance rates - the insurance that protects doctors who are sued - have risen steadily in Pennsylvania since the late 1990s. Physicians say the higher rates increasingly force them to limit or close their practices. But, according to the GAO study, ``many of the reported provider actions were not substantiated or did not affect access to health care on a widespread basis.'' ``For example, although some physicians reported reducing certain services they consider to be high risk ... GAO did not find access to these services widely affected.'' Steve Foreman, director of health services for the Pennsylvania Medical Society, said the GAO incorrectly analyzed physician license records for the study. Many physicians retain their license after leaving the state, making it appear that Pennsylvania has more physicians than actually practice, Foreman said. ``The whole thing seems suspicious to me,'' Foreman said. ``This isn't a normal level of GAO work.' The report also found: > The rate of
Pennsylvania orthopedic surgeries has increased steadily since 1997,
despite medical society claims that about 30 orthopedic surgeons have
left since 2001.
> Despite claims that Pennsylvania physicians perform fewer
mammograms, the number of Medicare-covered mammograms has increased
since 1997.
The debate about medical liability is almost solely split down party
lines.
Physician groups, frequently aligned with Republicans, have pushed
for insurance caps, while attorney and consumer groups have generally
supported Democrats and oppose caps.
Health-care officials blame the increased premiums on excessive
lawsuits and high damage claims, while attorney and consumer groups say
the rise stems from a slow economy and poor investments by insurance
companies.
In June, the GAO released a report saying that insurance companies
must bear some of the fault for rising rates.
The most recent report was prepared for three House Republicans who
support tort reforms. |
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Copyright (c) 2003 The Times Leader |