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Medical Malpractice Insurance Crisis
Many Southern Nevada doctors say soaring rate increases in medical malpractice insurance, some to $200,000 annually from $40,000, are forcing them to close their practices, retire early or double their patient load. Health officials are describing this as a medical crisis for the region. Keep up on the issue here.
SEPTEMBER 2003
Sept 06: GAO: Crisis exaggerated
AUGUST 2003
Aug 02: Doctors say sign before treating
JULY 2003
Jul 31: Another insurance firm set to leave
Jul 09: CAPS ON FEES: Malpractice awards head for showdown
MAY 2003
May 31: Medical liability vote upcoming
May 24: Desert Springs Hospital to close maternity ward
May 21: Poll: Nevadans back liability reform
May 17: Panel OKs two malpractice ballot questions
May 14: Lawmaker criticizes plan to scrap insurance reforms
May 8: Medical reform decried
APRIL 2003
Apr 23: Tort reform ads take aim at Reid
Apr 17: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Doctors board fund targeted
Apr 12: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Panel OKs discipline plan
Apr 08: Medical malpractice screening panels urged
Apr 01: Desert Springs Hospital to treat emergencies again
MARCH 2003
Mar 26: DESERT SPRINGS HOSPITAL: Emergency surgeons unavailable
Mar 26: Malpractice bill change sought
Mar 20: Liability coverage surcharge angers, shocks doctors
Mar 17: Malpractice reform pressed in wake of woman's loss
Mar 14: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LIABILITY REFORM: The local vote
Mar 12: Doctors don't find strip club fee very amusing
Mar 12: Panel reviews malpractice insurance reform
Mar 11: Doctors fear ward has too few obstetricians
Mar 10: Legislator sees malpractice crisis from all sides
Mar 10: Ensign presses Bush proposal for reform of medical liability
Mar 06: Lawsuit reform efforts debated
Mar 05: Doctors call on lawmakers to revamp liability laws
Mar 04: Physician-assemblyman decries legislative report
Mar 01: Specialists spurn area's hospitals
FEBRUARY 2003
Feb 28: Report suggests doctor crisis overstated
Feb 21: Survey: Most favor medical malpractice insurance reforms
Feb 19: Doctors have backup plan
Feb 14: Outspoken doctor fights own malpractice suit
Feb 12: SENATE HEARING: Ex-Nevada doctor tells why he left
Feb 12: Doctors hit airwaves to push liability ideas
JANUARY 2003
Jan 31: Official: Cost of insurance still an issue
Jan 29: Group: 76 medical practices have closed
Jan 27: MEDICAL LIABILITY LAWS: Doctors remain unsatisfied
Jan 24: Desert Springs closing orthopedic department
Jan 23: 'VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS': OB/GYNs hail new insurance rules
Jan 10: DELIVERIES IN LIMBO: Women search for care
Jan 10: Some worry crisis not over as insurers seek rate increases
DECEMBER 2002
Dec 07: Kenny says UMC care threatened
Dec 07: County sees big increase in medical malpractice lawsuits
Dec 05: Doctors' medical liability plan seen as flawed by opponents
Dec 03: Doctors group's petition forces Legislature to consider proposal
NOVEMBER 2002
Nov 06: 96,000 signed petitions to change medical malpractice law ready
Nov 05: Obstetrician exodus crowding gynecology appointments
OCTOBER 2002
Oct 30: 20 obstetricians poised to leave LV
Oct 25: Health officials gather in LV
Oct 22: Doctor-led group garners many petition signatures
Oct 16: Analysis finds laws won't keep doctors in state
Oct 15: Petition targeting new law
Oct 13: Poll: Voters want more liability reform
Oct 12: MEDICAL PRACTICE: UMC official says crisis is far from over
Oct 04: Lawmakers critical of petition to alter medical malpractice law
Oct 03: New liability laws target of petition
Oct 01: Obstetricians say problems remain
SEPTEMBER 2002
Sept 27: Medical malpractice bill passes in House
Sept 26: House to study tort reform
Sept 19: Budget crisis contributes to doctors' woes
Sept 12: Special Deliveries
AUGUST 2002
Aug 29: Obstetricians too few, group says
Aug 21: Task force to look at LV obstetrician access
Aug 18: Insurance official questions system
Aug 16: Couple awarded $4 million
Aug 15: Federal inquiry targets doctors
Aug 14: State insurance program holds off on lowering rates
Aug 11: Both sides foresee win under law
Aug 10: Insurer has no plan to lower costs
Aug 09: Obstetric patients find relief
Aug 09: BARBARA ROBINSON: Crisis averted ... not
Aug 08: HEALTH CARE: Governor signs liability bill
Aug 07: EDITORIAL: Malpractice, here and there
Aug 06: Medical malpractice insurance rate to fall
Aug 05: SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY: Donations reviewed
Aug 04: Doctors still have money problems
Aug 04: LETTERS: Malpractice package gets mixed reviews
Aug 02: Factions split on legislation's effect
Aug 02: Lawyers glum, but governor says 'people of Nevada won'
Aug 02: WHAT'S IN THE BILL
Aug 02: EDITORIAL: Now let's wait and see
Aug 01: Session could end today
Aug 01: Reform caps noneconomic damages at $1 million
Aug 01: STEVE SEBELIUS: All about the insurance
JULY 2002
July 31: Legislative agreement collapses
July 31: Bill does not allow public to see complaints against doctors
July 31: U.S. Senate kills cap on medical malpractice suits
July 31: Exceptions keep cap from solving insurance crisis, experts say
July 31: Las Vegas doctors see progress
July 31: EDITORIAL: Creating too may loopholes
July 30: Compromise proposed
July 29: Special session showdown set on medical malpractice
July 29: Special session expected to be most contentious since '68
July 28: Operation Special Session
• All sides get set to play politics
• History suggests legislators must strike balance
• California cited as reform model
• EDITORIAL: Medical malpractice
• EDITORIAL: Bush weighs in
July 27: SPECIAL SESSION PROPOSAL: Guinn silent on size of cap
July 27: Tiffany to use video, e-mail to keep constituents in touch
July 27: Deputy district attorney condemns UMC ad supporting tort reform
July 27: TOPICS GUINN WILL ADDRESS WITH LEGISLATURE DURING SPECIAL SESSION
July 26: Governor meets with Republicans, Democrats
July 26: Nevada woman optimistic after talking with Bush
July 25: HEALTH CARE AGENDA: Nevadans to meet with Bush
July 25: Malpractice insurance rates rising for lawyers
July 25: UMC ad supporting tort reform investigated
July 25: Assembly Democrats preparing own bill that includes caps
July 23: System sought for reporting medical errors
July 21: Poll: Most support caps on jury awards
July 21: Law likely to be hot topic at session
July 21: JOHN L. SMITH: Lawyers' emotional pleas competing with doctors in malpractice debate
July 20: Caps on medical lawsuits expected
July 20: TORT REFORM: Ensign PAC seeks pledge
July 19: Panel unable to reach compromise
July 18: Senate spots filled for special session
July 18: LETTERS: If only the lawyers were leaving, instead
July 17: Court won't intervene in malpractice case
July 16: Lawyers slam doctors with ad
July 14: Trauma center reopens doors
July 13: Trauma center to reopen today
July 13: Study finds medical lawsuits on rise in county
July 13: Malpractice insurance rate hikes OK'd
July 13: County Commission to hold special meeting Wednesday
July 11: TRAUMA CENTER: Surgeons reconsider resignations
July 10: Opinion offers hope for trauma center
July 10: Medical crisis confined to south
July 09: Hospital in talks with specialists
July 09: LV trauma center's closure receives national attention
July 07: TRAUMA CENTER: Accident victims grateful to be alive
July 07: JOHN L. SMITH: Trauma center doctors pick bad time to get their scary message out
July 06: Trauma victim first to die since unit shut doors
July 06: Doctors step up campaign for tort reform
July 06: Board to take applications for special legislative session
July 04: LIABILITY CONCERNS: Trauma center closes; ERs gear up
July 04: Neal urges Guinn to declare emergency
July 04: Lawmakers call for inquiry
July 03: TRAUMA CENTER: Facility at UMC set to close
July 03: Hospitals brace for influx of new trauma patients
July 02: UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: Trauma center closing
July 02: Paramedic expects increase in deaths
July 01: Issue a familiar topic for lawmaker
JUNE 2002
June 28: TRAUMA CENTER: Doors set to close next week
June 27: Board to weigh emergency trauma center plan
June 25: Commissioners propose protection for UMC doctors
June 21: MEDICAL CARE CRISIS: Trauma center at risk
June 21: Possible cutbacks by trauma center worry LV police
June 19: Doctors denied leave of absence
June 18: MEDICAL LIABILITY DEBATE: Parties meet, set agenda
June 16: LETTER: Lawyers' claims ring hollow
June 15: Doctors to launch ad campaign to fight rising malpractice rates
June 12: DOCTOR WOES: Lawmakers see need for consensus
June 12: State agrees to cover increase in school's malpractice insurance
June 11: Guinn might call special session
June 11: LETTERS: Don't lower the standards for local doctors
June 07: Doctors ask for special session
June 06: Surgeons leaving trauma center
June 05: Medical board frowns on easing doctor licensing guidelines
June 05: Malpractice insurance weighed by medical school
June 04: LETTERS: The malpractice answer? Follow the money
June 02: EDITORIAL: Reining in malpractice rates
MAY 2002
May 31: Doctors want details of plan
May 30: INSURANCE PROPOSAL: Guinn plan cuts costs for doctors
May 30: Supporters, opponents of tort reform bill present arguments
May 30: A LOOK AT THOSE ON EACH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT
May 29: Guinn may reveal insurance proposals
May 29: Ensign to introduce tort reform legislation
May 25: Guinn to offer new insurance plan for doctors
May 19: Nevada not alone in doctor woes
May 17: Physicians group pushes package for tort reform
May 17: LETTERS: The time for tort reform in Nevada is now
May 16: Trauma surgeon to leave center
May 14: LEGISLATIVE REVIEW: Tort reform studied
May 10: Guinn seeks temporary solutions to doctor crisis
May 09: Obstetricians encounter overload
May 08: Pregnant women scramble for options as obstetricians close doors
May 07: Pregnant women turned away
APRIL 2002
Apr 27: 75 doctors receive reprieve
Apr 24: OB/GYNs shedding ER duties
Apr 24: Lawmakers told crisis to get worse
Apr 20: Nearly 100 have applied to state liability group
Apr 17: Plan to list medical errors modified
Apr 16: Malpractice insurance applications slow to arrive
Apr 13: Doctors to learn their fate quickly
Apr 13: Doctors get new insurance option
Apr 07: Crisis alters lives, livelihoods
Apr 03: Insurance board members named
MARCH 2002
Mar 26: MEDICAL COVERAGE: State panel approves funding
Mar 26: Malpractice rates could jeopardize medical school
Mar 23: Poll of doctors gauges depth of medical crisis
Mar 22: Easy solution unseen in medical crisis
Mar 21: Trauma center faces new threat
Mar 17: LETTER: Lawyers must be part of the solution to local malpractice crisis
Mar 16: Doctors leaving, hospitals report
Mar 14: Guinn plan aims to stem doctor exodus
Mar 12: Trauma center to remain open
Mar 10: Guinn: State to offer malpractice coverage
Mar 05: MALPRACTICE INSURANCE: Hundreds crowd medical hearing
Mar 05: STEVE SEBELIUS: Malpractice rates have doctors leaving Las Vegas
Mar 04: Las Vegas surgeon subject of multiple lawsuits
Mar 04: Malpractice lawsuits feed insurance debate
Mar 03: Doctors' futures hinge on hearing
Mar 01: HEALTH INSURANCE: Squeezed physicians quit plans
FEBRUARY 2002
Feb 28: Senators told about lack of specialists in elderly care
Feb 27: Lawmakers seek solution to medical malpractice crisis
Feb 20: MALPRACTICE RATES TAKE TOLL: UMC trauma center at risk
Feb 07: MALPRACTICE CRISIS: Trauma unit faces cuts
Feb 06: Rising malpractice insurance focus of March 4 hearing
JANUARY 2002
Jan 31: Officials seek options to help doctors with insurance
Jan 31: MIDNIGHT DEADLINE: Hospital rate hike looms
Jan 30: Lawmakers seek legislative solutions to rising malpractice insurance
Jan 24: MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS: Guinn eyes cap on jury awards to avert crisis
Jan 24: EDITORIAL: Need for tort reform is critical
Jan 23: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CRISIS: Insurance costs driving doctors away
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