Dear neighbors, There comes a time when Nevadans must make tough choices, especially when it comes to health care issues. During the last session, there was a defining moment for many legislators when they were pressed to support AB 495, which reverses tort reform and could increase the cost of malpractice insurance that doctors pay.
Nevada malpractice insurance rates are currently ranked as medium to high when compared to all other states. While most doctors earn more in Nevada, they also pay more. For example, in 2009, OB/GYNs paid between $85,000 and $142,000 for malpractice insurance. The average salary for these doctors was around $180,000.
Can you imagine? Some doctors in Nevada are required to pay for insurance that amounts to almost 80 percent of their salary. And, just a few years ago, there was no end to these premium increases. The good news was that tort reform reversed the trend of super high insurance. The not-so-good news is it didn't lower premiums enough.
What Happened To Tort Reform?
According to the trade publication Insurancenews.net, Nevada has the third-lowest health insurance premiums but the ninth-highest malpractice premiums, despite having a malpractice cap. However, AB 495 is already expected to drive insurance premiums in Nevada higher. Higher insurance rates will only make matters even worse for doctors and you.
Every legislator in Nevada knew reversing tort reform was a bad idea. It was based on little more than a knee jerk reaction to the bad action of one medical practice.
I don't think it makes sense to punish every good doctor for the actions of one bad doctor. Everyone knows this, including the incumbent assemblywoman in District 5. But that is not how she voted. She voted against doctors. She voted against your doctor. She voted against you.
As the Reno-Sparks Chamber Of Commerce pointed out, when malpractice insurance goes up, the cost of your care goes up (assuming your doctor stays in Nevada). But that didn't matter to our representative. She did not ask a single question related to doctors or how AB 495 might affect them. Not one question related to doctors!
Why Did Our Assemblywoman Turn Her Back On Doctors?
The incumbent is currently running with a statement that reads: "We must do everything we can to protect vital services—education, health care, and public safety—in tough economic times." But what she doesn't tell you is that she voted for a bill that made it worse for your doctors and health care.
Vital services are important to Nevada. However, there is a difference in providing vital services and providing the best possible care. She only made it harder for good doctors to give you the best health care possible and did nothing to stop bad doctors from practicing medicine.
Better legislation would have been to increase the penalties against criminally negligent doctors while continuing to protect good doctors who take care of us in our time of need. I am not the only one who thinks so.
Nevada doctors agree with me, which is why I received an endorsement from Keep Our Doctors in Nevada. And, as someone who has survived childhood cancer, I can assure you that having the best doctors and keeping your faith is the best medicine possible.
If you have questions about the issues I care about or have other issues that you would like me to address, do not hesitate to call me direct at 702.427.7807. We have a growing group of dedicated people who are helping out. I would be honored if you did too.
Respectfully,
Tim Williams
Candidate for Assembly District 5
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