I am your doctor, and I need your help. The New York State Superintendent of Insurance has approved a $50,000 surcharge over and above a 15 to 25% rate hike on my medical malpractice insurance, effective July 1, 2008. I cannot afford to pay such an increase, and if I don’t I will have to shut down my practice.
I have been practicing Colon and Rectal Surgery in this area since October 2000. In that time I’ve done thousands of colonoscopies and anorectal operations and hundreds of major colon surgeries. Maybe I’ve taken care of your mother, your husband, or you. I get along well with nurses and staff at the hospital. My colleagues trust me with their patients. I am famous for my “bedside manner.” I read all the time, study and go to conferences to keep up with the latest developments in my field. I teach once a week at the medical school. I’ve never been sued.
I thought for a while I was alone. I knew I had higher premiums than doctors who are in primary care. When my own primary care physician left New York, to practice medicine in Kentucky, I thought she was homesick. When my patients told me their other doctors were not taking certain insurance plans, I thought it was greed. When I lost my job with another practice, I thought it was just poor business sense. Then the AMA named New York State one of its “crisis” states. Even President Bush pushed for medical liability reform, supporting federal legislation favoring caps on non-economic damages and frivolous lawsuits.
When I started my own practice, I got a break, a stepped discount on premiums for my first couple of years. Now out of this protected period, I was shocked to write out checks for thousands, then tens of thousands every three months to keep my policy in force. Shocked last July at a 14% rate increase, and shocked again this January to hear of the 15-25% increase and $50,000 surcharge in store for this July. I made some drastic changes at the office, joined an ad-hoc committee on my medical staff, wrote a check for over $13,000 for the next three months, and held my breath. My payroll service called today to ask why I haven’t written a paycheck, even to myself, for almost two months.
I am a surgical subspecialist. My colleagues and I are some of the highest paid doctors in the world. Yet I am struggling. I can’t imagine how your other doctors, your family practitioner, your pediatrician, your gynecologist are surviving.
I am your doctor, but more than that, I am your sister, your neighbor, your friend. I’ve seen you at the library, at BJ’s, at Kohl’s. My children go to school with yours. My daughter is in Girl Scouts with your daughter. My husband coaches your son’s little league team. This health care crisis affects all of us.
I don’t live in a big house. I don’t drive a fancy car. But, you know, I take good care of my patients. Some of you have said, “I wish you were my doctor for everything!” If this crisis continues, and malpractice rates continue to rise, I will be your doctor for nothing.
I have been practicing Colon and Rectal Surgery in this area since October 2000. In that time I’ve done thousands of colonoscopies and anorectal operations and hundreds of major colon surgeries. Maybe I’ve taken care of your mother, your husband, or you. I get along well with nurses and staff at the hospital. My colleagues trust me with their patients. I am famous for my “bedside manner.” I read all the time, study and go to conferences to keep up with the latest developments in my field. I teach once a week at the medical school. I’ve never been sued.
I thought for a while I was alone. I knew I had higher premiums than doctors who are in primary care. When my own primary care physician left New York, to practice medicine in Kentucky, I thought she was homesick. When my patients told me their other doctors were not taking certain insurance plans, I thought it was greed. When I lost my job with another practice, I thought it was just poor business sense. Then the AMA named New York State one of its “crisis” states. Even President Bush pushed for medical liability reform, supporting federal legislation favoring caps on non-economic damages and frivolous lawsuits.
When I started my own practice, I got a break, a stepped discount on premiums for my first couple of years. Now out of this protected period, I was shocked to write out checks for thousands, then tens of thousands every three months to keep my policy in force. Shocked last July at a 14% rate increase, and shocked again this January to hear of the 15-25% increase and $50,000 surcharge in store for this July. I made some drastic changes at the office, joined an ad-hoc committee on my medical staff, wrote a check for over $13,000 for the next three months, and held my breath. My payroll service called today to ask why I haven’t written a paycheck, even to myself, for almost two months.
I am a surgical subspecialist. My colleagues and I are some of the highest paid doctors in the world. Yet I am struggling. I can’t imagine how your other doctors, your family practitioner, your pediatrician, your gynecologist are surviving.
I am your doctor, but more than that, I am your sister, your neighbor, your friend. I’ve seen you at the library, at BJ’s, at Kohl’s. My children go to school with yours. My daughter is in Girl Scouts with your daughter. My husband coaches your son’s little league team. This health care crisis affects all of us.
I don’t live in a big house. I don’t drive a fancy car. But, you know, I take good care of my patients. Some of you have said, “I wish you were my doctor for everything!” If this crisis continues, and malpractice rates continue to rise, I will be your doctor for nothing.
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