Re: GEN: Vegas Trauma Unit Endangered
From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com)
Sat Mar 9 14:57:04 2002
and that leads us back to the hot cup of coffee stationed between the
legs - and so it goes! rather than point fingers - wouldn't you agree
that there is a problem for which a solution MUST be found?
just my opinion - i could be wrong.
art
At Sat, 09 Mar 2002, Marilyn Ringst wrote:
>
><< Marilyn - here's a head's up for you - a Las Vegas trauma unit was
>reported to be in danger of closing. apparently - exponential increases in
>malpractice premiums may for the surgeons are to blame.>>
>
>Yes Art, I read that, but remember to find the correct enemy here. It’s
>easy, but incorrect to blame the trial lawyers and you’re going to end up
>looking for solutions in all the wrong places. Blame Osama and the
>insurance companies who are sitting on reserves or made bad investments, (or
>used Arthur Anderson). Also keep in mind the Harvard Medical Practice Study
>–almost 10 years ago said regarding medical malpractice: “$60 billion in
>costs, all of which the medical care system and other social welfare benefit
>plans now silently absorb.” Wonder where inflation would leave that now and
>where it figures into the current problem? Or do you think we can just
>ignore it?
>
>Posted on Sun, Feb. 24, 2002
>Cash-rich insurers sit on billions in surplus
>Three big Blue Cross firms in Pa. have enormous reserves but keep raising
>rates. Now they are being sued.
>By L. Stuart Ditzen
>Inquirer Staff Writer
>”Three giant Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that provide health
>insurance to more than half the population of Pennsylvania have stockpiled
>huge cash surpluses in recent years while charging subscribers higher and
>higher premium rates. The companies, all nonprofit organizations, hold more
>than $3 billion in surplus - far in excess of legal requirements. Those
>surpluses could have been reduced by $2.2 billion last year and still would
>have met minimum reserve levels set by the Pennsylvania Insurance
>Department. The companies - Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia,
>Highmark of Camp Hill and Pittsburgh, and Capital Blue Cross of Harrisburg -
>have been accused in a series of class-action lawsuits of violating their
>nonprofit charters in building up the surpluses.” (I have the full text of
>this if anyone wants it, I can’t find the link)
>
>Malpractice crisis caused by insurers
>http://physiciansnews.com/discussion/goodrich.html
>
>Marketplace: News Archives
>http://www.marketplace.org/shows/2002/03/04_mpp.html
>
>--
>Marilyn Ringstaff, CNM
>Rome, Ga
>
--
art fougner, md
ich bin ein New Yorker
