Insurance

MedMal ‘Crisis’ Hill Action Heats Up, But Divisions May Send Issue To States

February 17, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Insurance Chronicle</p> <p>The issue of medical malpractice liability insurance premiums heated up in Washington last week as hearings on the issue were held in both houses of Congress and various special interest groups jockeyed to make their case to lawmakers.</p>

California Experience

February 16, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Kansas City Star</p> <p>There is an equal argument to be made that premiums in California actually didn't decline until 1988, when voters passed Proposition 103, which gave the state and voters new tools to investigate and limit the insurance industry's rates and practices.</p>

Ballot budgeting considered

February 16, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Democrats say voters may be needed to do what lawmakers won't.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>California's Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights wants to band together with other groups to change commercial property tax rules, particularly to spare health care programs targeted for deep cuts in the Davis budget.</p>

Place No Cap On Reform

February 14, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Palm Beach Post</p> <p>California's "successful experience," however, also included a voter-approved rollback of malpractice premiums. The Florida task force recommends nothing like that.</p>

Consumer groups say malpractice caps not best solution to crisis

February 12, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The state should regulate insurance companies better and crack down on doctors who repeatedly commit malpractice to address ballooning malpractice premiums in New Jersey, consumer groups said Wednesday.</p>

How to Address the Insurance and Malpractice Crises Facing the Nation

February 11, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Recommendations for Insurance Reform and Reducing Malpractice</h3> <p>Solving the medical malpractice crisis requires both insurance reform and improvements to our system for assuring quality healthcare.</p>

How Insurance Reform Lowered Doctors’ Medical Malpractice Rates In California

February 10, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>And How Malpractice Caps Failed</h3> <p>This report analyzes and compares the impact of legal restrictions versus insurance regulation on medical malpractice premiums.</p>

Solving the Medical Malpractice Crisis

February 10, 2003  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<h3>Congressional Testimony of Harvey Rosenfield (February 10, 2003)</h3> <p>Harvey Rosenfield's testimony concerning the impact of liability caps compared with insurance regulation on medical malpractice insurance rates before the the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, in Langhorne,</p>

Medical Malpractice Insurers Agreed to Refunds

February 9, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Stipulations and Consent Orders Concerning Prop 103 Rollbacks</h3> <p>In 1992 California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi settled rate rollback cases with three of California's largest medical malpractice insurers - Norcal Mutual, SCPIE and The Doctors Co. This document contains the stipulation and consent</p>

Proposition 103 Freezes Insurance Rates

February 9, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>News Articles</h3> <p>After the enactment of Proposition 103 California Insurance Commisisoner John Garamendi froze insurance rates. This file includes news articles describing the rate freeze.</p>

House bill would put caps on malpractice awards

February 7, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California already limits amount for pain and suffering, but not punitive damages.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>However, it is expected to face stiff opposition in the Senate, where many Democrats insist that investment losses by insurance companies, not lawsuits, are to blame for the medical-liability problems.</p>

Op-Ed: To Solve the Malpractice Insurance Crisis, Roll Back Rates, Not Rights

February 6, 2003  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">Tom Paine</p> <p>Thirty years of experience in the Golden State shows that stringent regulation of insurance companies, not restrictions on the right to sue negligent doctors and hospitals, is the only way to control the price medical providers pay for liability coverage.</p>