Med Mal Insurance Premiums Fall Again

For the seventh straight year, med mal insurance premiums have dropped for 3 bellwether specialties:  ob/gyn, internists, and general surgeons.  Rates dropped by approximately 1.5% for the specialties combined.  Since 2008, rates for the 3 specialties have fallen by approximately 13%.  The survey found that internists in 8 states can obtain insurance for less than $5,000.  On the other end of the spectrum, ob/gyns in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York must pay $214,999 for a policy.  One reason for the premium decline is the decline in claims per physician, regardless of outcome.  Moreover the amount of awards and settlements has remained flat.  Medscape has the story.