Under the plan, being developed by the legislature’s GOP majority, physicians would be considered agents of the state and entitled to a $100,000 cap on damages for each adverse incident, which is already accorded to government entities such as county health departments. However, the legislature plans to reduce state Medicaid funding.
A Florida Medical Association spokesman said many physicians avoid Medicaid because of low reimbursements, but they might be “more likely to participate” if they were given immunity from lawsuits. Democratic lawmakers said reducing physicians’ liability is simply a political ploy by Republicans at odds with trial lawyers allied with the Democrats.
The federal government has to approve such a change. The legislature has already passed a measure telling Congress the state wants to revamp its Medicaid program and now a state senator is holding a series of meetings on what the proposed changes should be.
Read the Palm Beach Post report on malpractice.
Read more about malpractice lawsuits.
–Study Finds 42% of Physicians Have Been Sued for Malpractice
–Medicare to Start Claiming Share of Malpractice Settlements Next Year
–New York City Judge Teams Up With Hospitals to Lower Malpractice Costs
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
