Nexus Insurance Services Weighs In On California's Medical Malpractice Cap

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. - Sept. 17, 2013 - PRLog -- The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, or MICRA, a law that started back in 1975, is currently a hot topic of debate in the state of California.  The law institutes a cap of $250,000 for noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases.  These types of damages include pain and suffering.

Ever since MICRA was implemented, about half of the states have followed California's lead and placed caps on malpractice rewards.  However, this summer an initiative to release that cap is being pushed by consumer groups and lawyers in California.

If the measure gets put on the ballot and is voted through next year, the amount that can be claimed in a medical malpractice case may quadruple.  The ballot measure would also require random drug and alcohol testing of doctors, plus make it mandatory for healthcare providers to use a state database that keeps track of prescriptions.

The main component of this initiative, though, is to increase the $250,000 medical malpractice cap to $1.1 million and allow it to adjust for inflation.

Adversaries of the malpractice cap increase believe that changes to MICRA would cause health care costs to increase.  Others also believe that tort reform would lead to increases in malpractice insurance rates.

On the other hand, proponents of amending MICRA feel that the law has limited the ability of California patients to file substantial malpractice lawsuits.

"If a doctor or healthcare professional does cause physical harm to a patient and is found guilty, there should be fair and just consequences for everyone involved.  Compensation should be made to a victim of malpractice that is equitable to the injury," said Michael Kataf of Nexus Insurance Services, a medical malpractice insurance broker.  "The idea that lifting the malpractice cap would result in an increase in insurance rates and healthcare costs is speculation."

About Nexus Insurance Services

Nexus Insurance Services is a professional insurance broker that has helped many doctors, lawyers, realtors, and business owners gain access to insurance providers for their practice or business.  The company's mission is to be a firm that brings real value to clients, builds personal relationships on top of business ones, and always conducts itself with sincerity, integrity and fairness.  Because of the relationships with many providers, the company is able to shop a client's application around to get the best rates.  Contact Nexus Insurance for a free, no obligation quote for medical malpractice insurance, professional liability insurance, or workers compensation insurance.  For more information, visit: http://www.nexus-insurance.net