Proposition 46, an initiative in California to raise malpractice caps and conduct drug tests, was not supported by voters. The ballot measure was rejected by two-thirds of the voters, and leaves the $250,000 cap on malpractice awards, which was a limit that was set in 1975. The debate for malpractice reform has been going on for decades. Attempts at reform on the federal level have been met with a great deal of resistance. If Proposition 46 had passed in California, many believed that it would have forced doctors to carry higher insurance policies, which would raise their premiums. Meanwhile, malpractice attorneys say that patients are not being fairly compensated for medical errors caused by negligent healthcare providers.
Nexus Insurance Services, a medical malpractice insurance broker, says that tort reform is the wrong way to deal with rising healthcare costs.
“Contrary to what some people might think, caps on malpractice does not lower insurance premiums or healthcare costs,” says Michael Kataf of Nexus Insurance Services. “Although rates have slightly declined recently, over the past couple decades premiums have actually increased for medical professionals in states with malpractice caps,”
A report card issued in 2006 by the Board of Emergency Physicians gave states without caps on non-economic damages higher marks for access to care, quality of care and patient safety than states that have instituted restrictions on medical negligence lawsuits.
“The focus should be on medical institutions and physicians who have overcharged for services and continue to practice defensive medicine. Instituting malpractice caps has no major effect on patient care. There should be a system of better communication, transparency, and programs to treat people promptly. That’s where the attention and energy should go,” says Kataf.
About Nexus Insurance Services
Nexus Insurance Services is a professional insurance broker that has helped many doctors, lawyers, realtors, and business owners gain access to insurance providers for their practice or business. The company's mission is to be a firm that brings real value to clients, builds personal relationships on top of business ones, and always conducts itself with sincerity, integrity and fairness. Because of the relationships with many providers, the company is able to shop a client's application around to get the best rates. Contact Nexus Insurance for a free, no obligation quote for medical malpractice insurance, professional liability insurance, or workers compensation insurance. For more information, visit: http://www.nexus-insurance.net