Malpractice measure passes Senate

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | 9:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Senate has passed a bill to give doctors more protection in dealing with insurance companies during the state's medical malpractice crisis.

Assembly Bill 320, which returns to the Assembly for an agreement on amendments, says the state insurance commissioner may require an insurance company to postpone for up to 120 days the cancellation of policies of certain doctors.

The protected doctors would be considered essential to Nevada, those in in obstetrics, gynecology, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, orthopedic, pediatrics and trauma surgery.

The delay would allow doctors to seek other insurance policies. The insurance commissioner would also be permitted to delay the termination of the insurance policy for a physician an additional 60 days after the 120 days if replacement policies were not available.

The bill also allows a "continuity of care" for patients who are under treatment by a doctor in a health maintenance organization. If a physician leaves the HMO, the patient, under certain circumstances, could be treated by the same doctor for 120 days.