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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Mike
Storm |
State Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Shapiro’s bipartisan legislation will assist Pennsylvania’s physicians
HARRISBURG, March 28 -- State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, will introduce bipartisan legislation later this month to help physicians fulfill their obligation to obtain state-mandated liability coverage.
Shapiro’s proposal, which already has 61 co-sponsors, would increase the notification period that insurance companies need to give physicians of a rate increase or cancellation in their liability insurance.
“We must require ample notice of rate increases and policy cancellations. An extra month will give our health-care providers the time necessary to find alternative coverage,” Shapiro said. “Without sufficient coverage, doctors and hospitals won’t be able to provide care for the people who need it, and the patients will be the ones to suffer.”
In 2001 and 2002, there was a crisis when many physicians scrambled to find alternative liability insurance because their rates were unexpectedly increased or cancelled. At the time, these physicians were only given 30 days notice of rate increases and 60 days notice if their policies were going to be cancelled.
Shapiro said these short notification periods continue to cause an unnecessary burden on physicians who need enough time to find a better premium or contract with an entirely new carrier.
The legislation would increase the notification periods by a month each, and allow physicians and hospitals to be better prepared to have appropriate liability insurance.
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