DAILY MAIL HEALTH REPORTER
Physicians, hospital officials and a managed-care company in theNorthern Panhandle have formed a group to promote long-term changesin medical malpractice insurance.
Members of the Committee for Policy Reform (CPR) hope to taketheir campaign statewide, they say, and keep alive the momentumstarted by the state Legislature late last year.
They were to announce their plans today in Wheeling but alreadyhave distributed brochures and established a Web site.
Founding members include the Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley,Ohio Valley Medical Center, East Ohio Regional Hospital in Ohio andmedical societies in Marshall, Hancock and Ohio counties.
Neither the West Virginia State Medical Association nor WheelingHospital has signed on as a formal partner. However, Evan Jenkins ofthe medical association said the new group's concerns were similar tothose of physicians across the state.
For instance, Jenkins said the Cabell County Medical Society ispreparing a grass roots campaign to garner support for tort reform.
Kathy Fortunato, executive director of the Ohio County MedicalSociety, said the new organization will ask legislators to enact whatshe calls 'common sense' changes to insurance laws.
Fortunato said there is still much to do.
For example:
* Set reasonable limits on pain-and-suffering and punitive damageawards.
* Prevent unnecessary trials by providing alternative disputeresolution.
* Require expert witnesses who testify to be practicing, board-certified specialists in the field relating to the suit.
* Allow juries to be informed if an insurance company already haspaid expenses.
Such changes in tort laws would assist in creating a fair systemrather than prohibit a person's right to sue for malpractice, saidTom Galinski, president and CEO of Ohio Valley Health Services andEducation. That includes the two hospitals.
Del. Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock, said he's unaware of thegroup's activities but said he believes further changes tomalpractice insurance are necessary.
'But I don't know if those are the answers,' Swartzmiller said.
Writer Therese Smith Cox can be reached at 348-4874 or by e-mailat therese@dailymail.com.
