Med school’s help sought

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, May 28, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Gov. Kenny Guinn is asking University of Nevada School of Medicine to put five to 15 local obstetricians on its payroll to help out with the medical malpractice problem -- a plan that medical school officials are considering but some doctors aren't sold on.

"That's going to deliver all the babies in Clark County? Oh boy." Dr. John Nowins, president of the Clark County Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, said. "The problem is, if I am one of those lucky few to be picked for this, the rest of my colleagues would be upset."

Guinn's request is part of a plan to make more OB/GYN doctors state employees, who enjoy a $50,000 cap on malpractice lawsuits. That would make malpractice insurance, which has become too expensive for many, affordable.

Clark County's 93 OBs deliver an average 15 babies apiece per month. The medical school has 10 obstetricians on staff.

"If we just get five doctors to join the School of Medicine and they can deliver 200 babies a year, that's a significant contribution," Guinn spokesman Greg Bortolin said.

School of Medicine Dean Stephen McFarlane said the school was open to the idea. "If we were to participate in that way, we would have to have additional support from the state. If he's saying that pregnant women won't be able to get a physician, then we want to be part of the solution."

What was unclear was whether doctors brought onto the medical school staff would have to teach. Such a time constraint could reduce an obstetrician's rate of delivering babies.

The governor also is asking the school, one of the largest groups of medical doctors in the state, to join the state's physician's insurance plan.

School of Medicine officials have received four quotes, all from private companies, to replace the school's malpractice coverage, which runs out on July 1. All were more that the school has budgeted.

"The good news is (our rates) didn't triple," said Lisa Davis, chief operations officer for the medical school. "That was our scenario, so we feel fortunate. It could have been worse."

The school did not get a formal quote from the state insurance plan, because it would cost $8.7 million for "tail coverage," which would cover past acts.

The School of Medicine currently pays $1.4 million a year for medical malpractice coverage. Davis would not say how much the private companies were offering to charge, though she said it was about $1 million over the school's budget.

School officials will need Guinn's support to get the money to pay the higher cost.

"If we can get (his) support, then I'm confident that we will be able to get coverage," McFarlane said.

School of Medicine officials must ask the State Board of Examiners, which is chaired by Guinn, for permission to seek state funding from the Interim Finance Committee.

Bortolin said the governor would like to see the school consider his plan to cover some OB/GYNs. but said he isn't twisting any arms.

"This is about the School of Medicine stepping to the plate and helping the state be a part of the solution to the current medical malpractice issue," Bortolin said. "In the process, if the School of Medicine can jump on board the (state insurance) coverage, that would be great."

Guinn's intentions are good, Nowin said. Any doctor delivering babies faces the highest malpractice insurance premiums, the lowest medical reimbursement rates and the highest risk.

"Those are three reasons right there to leave Nevada," Nowin said.

The governor's recommendations are just that though, Bortolin said.

"(The governor) doesn't see this as the only solution. He is looking at a whole panacea of options," Bortolin said.

The School of Medicine will be making its choice on which coverage to take next week and then go before the Board of Examiners in June with its proposal.