MISSISSIPPI STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Press Release
Friday, September 14, 2007
PHYSICIANS SAY 2004 TORT REFORMS
LOWERED 2008 INSURANCE RATES
The president of the state’s largest physician association said recent cuts in medical liability insurance costs are a direct result of tort reforms passed by the Mississippi
State Legislature in 2004.
Mississippi State Medical Association President Dwalia S. South, MD said the largest insurer of doctors in the state has cut costs five times since the 2004 tort reforms were enacted.
“A modest medical liability reform bill that was passed in 2002 was a start, but not until after the 2004 tort reforms did doctors actually begin to see reductions in their malpractice insurance costs,” Dr. South said.
A history of liability premiums for physicians covered by Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi (MACM) shows that the company increased premiums by 12.5% in 2000, 11.1% in 2001, 10% in 2002, 54% in 2003 and 19.4% in January of 2004.
Governor Barbour signed the 2004 tort reform legislation in June ... 15% of their [physicians] 2005 premium was refunded, 2006 rates were cut 5%, and an additional 20% of 2006 premiums paid were refunded. Since then rates were cut by 10% in 2007 and the company just announced a 15.5%
rate cut for 2008.
For more information, please contact the MCMA Director of Communications Karen A. Evers at (601) 853-6733.