Report: Doctors leaving because of high insurance rates

ATLANTA - Nearly 3,000 Georgia doctors have abandoned high-risk medical procedures such as delivering babies, and hundreds more are leaving the state because of high medical malpractice insurance rates, according to a study. <br> <br> ``Medical liability insurance is a serious problem in Georgia,&#39;&#39; said Bruce Deighton, executive director of the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, which released the survey Saturday. ``We&#39;re not saying we have an answer to correct that, but it does have an impact on the physician supply in Georgia and it does reduce access to medical care in Georgia.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The survey is the first in Georgia to provide a comprehensive study of the issue. The report, one of a few of its kind in the country to provide data on medical malpractice insurance, estimated fallout from rising insurance rates based on a survey of 2,200 doctors: <br> <br> A projected 2,800 doctors, or 17.8 percent of the doctors in the state, are expected to stop providing high-risk procedures to limit their liability risk and lower coverage premiums. Nearly one in three obstetrician/gynecologists and one in five family practitioners surveyed said they&#39;ll abandon high-risk procedures, such as delivering babies. <br> <br> More than 1,750 physicians, or 11.3 percent, have stopped or will stop providing emergency room services to reduce liability risk. Nearly one in three plastic surgeons and one in four orthopedic surgeons interviewed have stopped practicing in the state&#39;s emergency rooms. <br> <br> About 630 doctors, or 4 percent, have decided to move out of the state or retire because of high insurance rates. <br> <br> About 95 doctors in the state do not have medical insurance or soon will have expired policies from insurers that no longer cover Georgia doctors. <br> <br> About 2,000 doctors, or 13 percent, had difficulty finding malpractice insurance coverage, and one in five changed insurance carriers last year. <br> <br> ``If no action is taken, it seems likely that these trends will continue,&#39;&#39; board members wrote in the report. <br> <br> Medical liability insurance is required for doctors to practice in the state. In the last year, insurance rates have increased from 11 to 30 percent. <br> <br> Rising medical malpractice insurance rates have been an issue across the country. Earlier this month, surgeons in West Virginia and in Mississippi temporarily stopped working in protest of the high cost of being insured. <br> <br> In June, Georgia was identified by the American Medical Association as one of 12 ``crisis&#39;&#39; states where insurance costs had increased to a level that could result in doctors leaving or changing their practice in the state. <br> <br> Board members created the report to inform the state legislature of Georgia&#39;s situation. <br> <br> ``There are a lot of reasons that we will need to make sure this thing is addressed by our friends in the capitol,&#39;&#39; said board Chairman Dr. J. Daniel Hanks Jr. <br> <br> Medical groups in Georgia, including the Medical Association of Georgia and the Georgia Hospital Association, said they&#39;ll introduce legislation that would put a cap on damages for pain and suffering. <br> <br> ``We don&#39;t want to see (a strike) in Georgia,&#39;&#39; said David Cook, executive director of the medical association. ``What we want to do is have a responsible solution to the problem. Hopefully this session of the General Assembly will be able to do that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The survey included 2,200 doctors in 82 medical specialties across the state. The board advises the state legislature on physician workforce issues.