Malpractice Rates Pushing Doctors Out
Are medical malpractice rates in New York state and elsewhere driving doctors out of practice? Texas has recently implemented limits to medical malpractice lawsuit payouts, and doctors are flocking there seeking lower malpractice premiums.
The state medical board now is backlogged with applications from doctors seeking to practice in the state, with 2,500 applications pending at last count. The number of licenses issued jumped 30% in the last fiscal year, and there has been an overall increase of 18% since 2003, according to Donald Patrick, executive director of the Texas Medical Board, a neurosurgeon and lawyer. "Doctors are coming to Texas because they sense a friendlier malpractice climate," Patrick said.