Neurosurgery weighs in on the debate concerning federal medical liability reform legislation, as a representative of it national professional societies participates in President Bush's Economic Forum held at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday, August 13. James R. Bean, MD, a practicing neurosurgeon from Lexington, Kentucky and chair of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Washington Committee, will discuss the impact that the liability crisis is having on neurosurgeons and their patients across the country.
According to a recent survey by the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies, neurosurgeons in nearly all 50 states have had increases in their professional liability costs. Approximately 50 percent of respondents have had at least a 20 percent increase in costs from 2000 to 2002, with some neurosurgeons paying in nearly $300,000 per year.
"The growing costs are not simply a market trend, they're a reality for medical professionals," said Dr. Bean. "It is a devastating reality when patient care is compromised, as quality physicians are moving, retiring or restricting their practices in reaction to these skyrocketing insurance premiums."
The survey also revealed certain liability "hot spots" (states that have demonstrated significant increased premiums), around the country (in alphabetical order) including: Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. States where professional liability insurance costs have remained relatively stable or even decreased over the past three years include: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
"Many of the states where professional liability insurance costs have remained stable are a direct reflection of effective tort reform laws passed in those areas," said Dr. Bean. "That is the main reason I am representing neurosurgery here today. We need to raise awareness of this debilitating trend and encourage more people, both medical professionals and the public they treat, to get involved in ensuring the continued availability of quality medical care in their own hometowns."
Forum topics of discussion in addition to professional liability include: rising healthcare costs and the affordability of healthcare; prescription drug affordability; technology to improve quality of care; reducing regulatory burden; economic recovery and job creation; corporate responsibility to economy; small investors and retirement security; small business and smarter regulation; education and workers; and trade.
The AANS and CNS believe that federal legislation is necessary to address this national crisis and are actively seeking passage of the "Help, Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002" (H.R. 4600 in the House of Representatives and S. 2793 in the Senate). For more information on professional liability reform and the impact on neurosurgery, visit http://www.neurosurgery.org/socioeconomic/liabilityreform.html.
The AANS, founded in 1931, and the CNS, founded in 1951, are the two largest scientific and educational associations for neurosurgical professionals in the world. These groups represent approximately 5,200 neurosurgeons in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Neurosurgery is the surgical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spine, brain, nervous system, and peripheral nerves.
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