OLYMPIA, Wash., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 30, Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare, a coalition of consumer and patient rights groups, will deliver to the Secretary of State the final signatures needed to send Initiative 336 (I-336) to the state Legislature. I-336 demands greater accountability from insurance companies, the healthcare system and the courts. When passed, the initiative will place stricter disciplinary guidelines on the healthcare system to reduce medical malpractice, keep malpractice insurance coverage accessible and affordable for physicians, and reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits.
Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare submitted 208,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office on Dec. 1, 2004. An additional 87,000 will be submitted tomorrow, bringing the total to 295,000.
“Our signatures came from people in every part of the state, from all walks of life, who have a common belief that we need to make meaningful changes to protect good doctors, patients and every person in Washington state,” said Dylan Malone, spokesperson for Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare. “I-336 proposes real solutions for better safer healthcare.”
I-336 will make healthcare safer for patients by allowing access to doctors’ malpractice histories and by stopping bad doctors from practicing medicine. The initiative includes a “three strikes” provision that mandates investigation of any doctor who has been found guilty of malpractice three times in 10 years. The initiative also adds patient advocates to the Medical Quality Assurance Commission.
I-336 reforms medical malpractice insurance practices to keep healthcare accessible and affordable. Forcing medical malpractice insurance companies to open their financial records to the public and explain the need for large rate hikes will stop unfair premium increases. Under I-336, insurance companies will have to provide, in a public hearing, a detailed justification of all rate increases above 15 percent. I-336 also creates a supplemental insurance fund that provides relief for physicians when traditional insurers have priced coverage out of reach.
I-336 protects good doctors and reduces frivolous lawsuits. The initiative places even stronger accountability on lawyers who file malpractice or wrongful death suits. Attorneys filing such suits must include a certificate of merit from a qualified medical expert verifying that there is a medical basis for the claim.
An opposing initiative supported by the medical association, and insurance and drug company lobbies, I-330, places caps on the amount juries can award victims of medical malpractice, protects bad doctors, and grants immunity across the healthcare system to protect corporate profits.
The Washington Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that limits on jury awards are unconstitutional and the state Legislature has rejected calls for caps on damages during the last two legislative sessions.
“Caps on damages unfairly hurt those malpractice victims with the most serious injuries and do nothing to reduce insurance premiums or keep coverage accessible for doctors, but I-330 goes even beyond caps,” said Bill Monto, spokesperson for the No on I-330 campaign.
Provisions in I-330 require that citizens sign away their rights before receiving any medical services. I-330 also imposes a restrictive statute of limitations that cuts off legitimate claims on injuries with long incubation periods.
“I-330 offers false promises to a healthcare system in crisis,” added Monto. “In reality, I-330 eliminates patients’ rights, grants sweeping immunity to bad doctors and shifts medical malpractice costs to the taxpayer.”
Monto also stated that I-330 shields bad doctors, drug companies, medical device manufacturers, HMOs and insurance companies, negligent nursing homes and hospitals from accountability to patients and their families.
“Better, safer healthcare in Washington is a priority for all citizens,” said Malone. “We are confident that the legislature will make patient safety and insurance reform a priority to keep good doctors practicing medicine, keep patients safe from negligent and dangerous doctors and uphold the constitutional rights of all Washington citizens.”
CONTACT Dylan Malone, Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare 425-344-8593 http://www.bettersafercare.org/
Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare
CONTACT: Dylan Malone of Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare,+1-425-344-8593
Web site: http://www.bettersafercare.org/
