Because Proposition 12 passed, there are now two more doctors delivering babies in Fredericksburg. Four anesthesiologists are establishing practice in Beaumont and the only two neurosurgeons in Bryan-College Station will keep their doors open. Four nonprofit nursing homes in Austin and San Antonio won?’t close and 610 elderly patients won?’t be put out on the street.

Courts throughout the state were flooded with lawsuits to beat the Sept.1 effective date of tort reform. In the past few months the rush to the courthouse has slowed dramatically and, not surprisingly, the market for liability insurance has begun to stabilize. About one-third of our state?’s physicians are seeing an immediate 12-percent cut in their liability insurance premiums. We don?’t change from crisis to stability overnight, but clearly, our state?’s medical liability crisis is on the road to recovery.

Dr. Howard Marcus
Chairman
Texas Alliance for Patient Access
Austin

Good for Texans


Once again, staff writer David Pasztor is covering Proposition 12 from the viewpoint of a small number of personal injury lawyers, rather than from that of millions of Texans for whom Proposition 12 can mean expanded health care options (Jan. 25 article, ?“For most doctors, premiums not dropping?”).

While Pasztor quotes extensively throughout his story from Texas Watch, a group funded by trial lawyers, it isn?’t until the end of the article that we learn that no liability premiums have gone up and, in fact, there is a strong possibility that soon, increased competition in the insurer market could lower rates further.

How ironic that new law that brings health care to more Texans and helps doctors should be criticized when the only negative appears to be fewer chances for personal injury lawyers to fatten their wallets.

Robert Mayfield
Austin