Some Doctors Seek Donations From Patients To Offset Medical Malpractice Insurance Premium Costs
Some doctors are asking patients for voluntary contributions to offset rising malpractice insurance premiums, a "new -- and controversial -- tactic that is being viewed with keen interest by medical groups around the country," the Washington Post reports. Some physicians say a malpractice surcharge is "simply another access fee," similar to fees some physicians charge patients for responding to e-mail, answering after-hours phone calls and completing camp and disability forms, according to the Post. However, most physicians present the malpractice surcharge as a voluntary contribution because Medicare rules ban such mandatory charges. T. Michael Preston -- executive director of MedChi, Maryland's medical society -- said, "Physicians are getting crushed by the combination of malpractice cost shocks and declining reimbursement. As a result, there is greater interest in surcharges or access fees." Peter Lavine, an orthopedic surgeon and president of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, said one benefit of the surcharge is that patients will be drawn into the malpractice debate.
Criticism
Arthur Levin, director of the New York-based Center for Medical Consumers, said such efforts are "a cynical attempt to get patients (angry)" enough to encourage lawmakers to support caps on medical malpractice damage awards, the Post reports. He said, "Here we have a privileged group of professionals making more money than most Americans ever dream of, saying, 'When the going gets tough, I'll take it out of the hide of my patients.'" In addition, some medical ethicists and consumer advocates said asking patients for contributions at a time when their health care costs are rising "may backfire," the Post reports. Some health insurance companies said they would not pay the surcharge. The American Medical Association might develop guidelines for members after studying the malpractice surcharge issue (Boodman, Washington Post, 9/21).
