Las Vegas Sun

December 3, 2009

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Editorial: Better data needed on insurance crisis

Friday, Feb. 28, 2003 | 5:03 a.m.

The Nevada State Medical Association, noting the severity of skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance premiums, said last year that 76 specialists in the state had closed their practices. Some media reports said as many as 30 obstetricians in Clark County had stopped delivering babies. In an effort to make sure that Nevadans wouldn't go without medical care, a special session of the Nevada Legislature passed medical malpractice tort reforms. But last week the Legislature's staff released a report that challenged the accuracy of the doctors' physician count. The staff found that only 35 physicians, including six obstetricians, shut their doors during 2002. What's more, 335 new medical licenses were issued to Nevada physicians last year.

Doctors dispute the numbers generated by the Legislature's staff, and there is no denying that skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance premiums for doctors have created a crisis in Nevada. But it's also becoming clear that legislators need more solid information, especially since doctors want even stricter limits placed on medical malpractice awards. In addition, even with the tort reforms, insurance premiums aren't going down -- just one more reason why the Legislature should also be considering tougher insurance regulation.

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