Malpractice rate hikes reduced

Monday, July 15, 2002 | 9:41 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The 117 physicians in Clark County who are covered by The Doctors Company for medical malpractice will see an average 41.6 percent increase in their rates, but some specialists will be paying 50 percent more for coverage.

Rates for the 64 doctors in Southern Nevada who have policies with the Medical Protective Company are getting hit with a 76 percent hike in their premiums.

State Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman said Friday The Doctors Company sought a 51.1 percent increase in Clark County with some specialists being hit with a 296 percent jump. She said her staff negotiated with the company to limit the increases to current policyholders to 41.6 percent in Clark County.

The rate went into effect July 1. For new business the rate goes into effect Aug. 15. For the rest of Nevada, rates for doctors with The Doctors Company will be going up 15 percent. The Doctors Company insures 349 physicians in Nevada with about one-third of them in the Las Vegas area.

Molasky-Arman said Medical Protective Company covers 66 physicians, with all but two living in Southern Nevada. She said the company sought a 93 percent increase to Clark County doctors and a 1 percent to the other two physicians. She said her staff negotiated the rate increase down to 76 percent. Those rates became effective June 1 for new business and on Sept. 1 for existing policies.

The insurance commission also said she has authorized a new company to write malpractice insurance for chiropractors. Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, a member of the Kemper Insurance Companies, will provide policies to members of the Chiropractic Benefit Services, Inc., a risk purchasing group.