You are the EVP of Medical Services at a large urban medical center in your state. In order to attract newandhighly quality physicians of certain medical specialties to practice at your medical center, they are reimbursed for the cost of their medical malpractice insurance premium for their first three (3) years of practice at your facility.
You asked your CFO what information you need to gather to support your request for a substantial increase in the amount of your annual malpractice insurance budget. You tell the CFO that is has become increasingly difficult for you to attract new physicians of certain medical specialties based upon the amount of your current insurance budget. You explain this is due to the high cost of insurance premiums or the lack of adequate malpractice insurance coverage available in your State.
Your CFO instructs you to provide detailed answers to the following questions to justify and support your request for a substantial budget increase next year. This information will be presented with your request at the next Board of Directors budget meeting.
1.LIST and DISCUSSwhich 3-4 physician medical specialties have the highest malpractice premiums. Pleaseexplain whythey are so high?
2. DISCUSSwhat efforts, actions, regulations or laws have been passedin your State (Florida)regardingMedical Malpractice Tort Reform.Discuss issues the reform tried to address. Mention if there have been any successes achieved in lowering premiums or reducing the number of malpractice suits. If not, why?