Doctors push for laws to curb malpractice insurance rates

ATLANTA - Hundreds of doctors and health care managers rallied at the Capitol Friday to build support for a planned push in the Legislature next year for laws they contend will help curb skyrocketing malpractice insurance rates. <br> <br> Several speakers, including American Medical Association President-elect Donald Palmisano, said the spike in insurance costs already has led some doctors not to perform high risk procedures while others have moved out of state. <br> <br> Lawrence Sanders of Morehouse School of Medicine said curbing the costs that doctors and hospitals pay for the insurance is essential to assure all Georgians have access to safe, affordable, quality medical service. <br> <br> A coalition of health groups, including the Medical Association of Georgia, contends rates have risen largely because of massive jury awards in malpractice cases. Among the laws they would like to see enacted is one limiting awards for pain and suffering to $250,000. <br> <br> Senator Tom Price of Roswell, an orthopedic surgeon and the newly-elected Senate Republican leader, said in his practice alone insurance premiums increased 400 percent over the last two years. <br> <br> He said with managed care, few physicians are able to compensate for the increased costs by increasing their rates.