WILLIAMS PRAISES GOV. RENDELL FOR INCLUDING NURSE MIDWIVES IN MCARE ABATEMENT

HARRISBURG, September 30, 2003 — Calling the inclusion a prudent gesture, state Sen. Connie Williams (D-Delaware) today praised Gov. Rendell for including nurse midwives in the MCARE abatement.

“Nurse midwives should be included in any kind of medical malpractice insurance relief,” Williams said. “They face the same increasing medical malpractice insurance costs as their medical colleagues already included in the MCARE reduction plan. It makes good sense to include them.”

The MCARE fund, a state pool that helps pay Pennsylvania’s largest medical malpractice jury awards and settlements, is partially funded through doctors across the state. 

Last year, former Gov. Mark Schweiker began delaying the payments amid complaints from doctors about increasing medical malpractice premiums.

Gov. Ed Rendell has extended the delay and is working on a plan that would eliminate MCARE payments for four types of specialists and would cut payments in half for other doctors.

The nurse midwives have been added to the governor’s plan to receive 100 percent abatement on the MCARE premiums.

Willams has repeatedly brought the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance premiums to the forefront by holding press conferences, rallies and other special events.

“We have to do something to bring down the skyrocketing cost of medical malpractice insurance,” Williams said. “The issue will not go away until we find a way to help. By doing nothing we’ll only be helping Pennsylvania’s doctors pack their bags.”

Williams said she expects Gov. Rendell’s plan to come up for a vote before the end of this legislative session.