Insurance: states support physicians

Several states are taking end-of-year steps to retain their currently licensed physicians. The Indiana Department of Insurance has announced lower malpractice surcharge premiums will  be due in 2008 to its Patient's Compensation Fund. Read more.
In Maryland, a taxpayer-financed program to help pay malpractice insurance premiums will be discontinued and $84 million returned to the state's coffers by an insurer. Read more.
New Jersey is distributing $16.4 million to help defray insurance premiums for obstetricians, neurosurgeons and radiologists who agree to continue practicing in the state for two more years. Read more.
The Pennsylvania Senate has voted to extend its malpractice subsidy through 2008. Read more.
On the other hand, an increase in New York premiums may be in the offing. The state-regulated high-risk pool is out of money and insurers are asking the state to use malpractice data to trigger automatic investigations. Read more.