PA Orthopaedic Surgeons Praise House Vote, Urge Governor’s Signature

Oct. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- The Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (POS) praised the state House of Representatives for today’s passage of Senate Bill 1280 (SB1280) on a 117 to 81 vote.  The bill passed the state Senate on September 29, 2010 on a 38 – 9 vote.  SB 1280 is an initiative of the POS, a medical professional organization serving the needs of orthopaedic surgeons and other high risk specialty physicians.  

Sponsored by Senator John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), SB 1280 statutorily sets the medical liability insurance limits for physicians at $500,000 for private market coverage and $500,000 for Mcare coverage for seven years.  The bill also creates a new formula for annual Mcare assessments that are imposed upon physicians and hospitals.  These measures provide premium stability and predictability for a defined time frame; protect physicians and hospitals from excessive annual assessments; and, ensure that the Mcare Fund will eventually be phased out.  SB 1280 amends Act 13 of 2002.

“This initiative is vital to high risk specialty physicians, especially orthopaedic surgeons” said POS President Wayne Sebastianelli, MD.  “Primary premium increases resulting from increased medical liability limits called for by current law  coupled with Mcare payments assessed for lagging cases, will put Pennsylvania at great risk of losing high risk specialists.”

Without SB1280, high risk specialty physicians will need to obtain $750,000 and subsequently $1million in coverage from the private medical liability insurance market  while continuing to pay Mcare annual assessments. If high risk specialists are required to seek $750,000 in coverage from the private market, they would experience premium increases in the magnitude of 25%. This shock wave could return Pennsylvania to the situation physicians and hospitals experienced in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  SB 1280 is particularly beneficial to private practice physicians, the physicians who are most sensitive to spikes in liability costs.  

“SB 1280 delivers tangible benefits to all in the medical community.  In addition to delivering premium stability and predictability to physicians for a defined time frame, the bill also creates a new calculation formula for annual Mcare assessments.  This provision will ensure that the Mcare Fund does not collect excessive amounts from physicians and hospitals to pay the Fund’s annual liabilities.”  Sebastianelli added.  “By their actions, house members and senators demonstrated overwhelming support to POS and to all physicians in Pennsylvania.”

POS expressed its sincere gratitude to both Chambers of the General Assembly, particularly Senators John Rafferty, Donald White, Joseph Scarnati, Dominic Pileggi, Jay Costa and Representatives Todd Eachus, Dwight Evans, Tony DeLuca, and Tom Killion, who each played a critical role in bringing predictability to Pennsylvania’ s  medical liability insurance environment, an element crucial to preservation of high-risk specialty patient care.  

Sebastianelli also urged Governor Ed Rendell to sign SB 1280 when it reaches the Governor’s Desk.  “We understand Governor Rendell has legitimate concerns with the Mcare assessment provisions.  On balance, however, SB 1280’s benefits are significant to orthopaedic surgeons and we urge him to sign the bill.”

POS is a professional medical specialty organization representing more than 900 orthopaedic surgeons across Pennsylvania in advocating for excellence in the practice of orthopaedic medicine. For more information, visit the POS website at www.paorthosociety.org.

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POS is a professional medical specialty organization representing more than 900 orthopaedic surgeons across Pennsylvania in advocating for excellence in the practice of orthopaedic medicine. For more information, visit the POS website at www.paorthosociety.org.