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For expectant mothers in some of Oregon’s more far-flung towns, the state’s program to help cover the rising cost of malpractice insurance for rural doctors is a great thing.
In some instances, it has allowed doctors to go back to delivering babies again.
However, the program is so loosely run that some of the money has been poorly spent.
An investigative report by The Oregonian has revealed that much of the millions handed out has gone to doctors in non-critical specialties or adjacent to urban areas.
This isn’t what was envisioned when the plan was drawn up three years ago, and funded by a higher premium paid by businesses for workers’ compensation.
Successful lobbying by the Oregon Medical Association to increase the program has meant that nearly $40 million will be spent paying for insurance in a four-year period.
Many of the recipients are worthy, such as family practice doctors in John Day and Lakeview.
But the recipients include one of four busy plastic surgeons in Ashland and orthopedists in Newberg, where there are plenty of other options.
Of the 1,100 Oregon doctors receiving help with malpractice insurance costs, only 71 were primary care doctors and 54 were obstetician-gynecologists.
Certainly medical specialists should be covered in some areas. Otherwise, they may feel the need to move to larger markets, and their patients will have to travel long distances for care.
Overall, it’s a great program, and has benefited areas such as Douglas County, which has to compete with cities to attract physicians.
It should be continued, with changes.
Critics of the current plan say it should consider income levels of physicians, and whether the service they offer is readily available in a community. It also needs a better definition of “rural.”
If that money can be spent more wisely, it can do a lot more good for the many Oregonians who live far from city lights, but still need health care.
An effective plan to help cover high malpractice insurance costs will allow more physicians to stay in rural communities, and keep delivering babies.
In some instances, it has allowed doctors to go back to delivering babies again.
However, the program is so loosely run that some of the money has been poorly spent.
An investigative report by The Oregonian has revealed that much of the millions handed out has gone to doctors in non-critical specialties or adjacent to urban areas.
This isn’t what was envisioned when the plan was drawn up three years ago, and funded by a higher premium paid by businesses for workers’ compensation.
Successful lobbying by the Oregon Medical Association to increase the program has meant that nearly $40 million will be spent paying for insurance in a four-year period.
Many of the recipients are worthy, such as family practice doctors in John Day and Lakeview.
But the recipients include one of four busy plastic surgeons in Ashland and orthopedists in Newberg, where there are plenty of other options.
Of the 1,100 Oregon doctors receiving help with malpractice insurance costs, only 71 were primary care doctors and 54 were obstetician-gynecologists.
Certainly medical specialists should be covered in some areas. Otherwise, they may feel the need to move to larger markets, and their patients will have to travel long distances for care.
Overall, it’s a great program, and has benefited areas such as Douglas County, which has to compete with cities to attract physicians.
It should be continued, with changes.
Critics of the current plan say it should consider income levels of physicians, and whether the service they offer is readily available in a community. It also needs a better definition of “rural.”
If that money can be spent more wisely, it can do a lot more good for the many Oregonians who live far from city lights, but still need health care.
An effective plan to help cover high malpractice insurance costs will allow more physicians to stay in rural communities, and keep delivering babies.
