Doctors pleased but ask for more

Malpractice reform bill is a 'start,' physicians say; 'More things ... can be done'; Measure would slash rise in premiums, tax HMOs. I do not think this issue gets enough attention from the media. Having Doctors close up shop due to high insurance premiums is not a society's best practice. Is this issue moving too slowly? More to follow//JW sends.

Some Maryland doctors say they welcome as a good start the hastily negotiated legislation passed by the General Assembly last week to rein in malpractice premiums, but they warned that more far-reaching legal reforms would be required to solve an insurance crisis that threatens some physicians' practices.

The bill would slash doctors' malpractice premiums, which are scheduled to increase 33 percent this year, and impose a tax on HMOs to subsidize premiums.

Even though Democrats promise to override an expected veto by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who opposes the tax, some doctors say they will continue to press for more measures to limit lawyers' fees and lower limits on awards for pain and suffering.

Ehrlich called the special session, which was held last week.

"This is a start, at best. There are many more things that can be done," said Dr. Mark E. Artusio, a surgeon with Foris Surgical Group in Frederick, which had decided to suspend its practice as of yesterday unless malpractice reform was passed.