December 30th, 2008

Reports Philadelphia’s The Bulletin:

Both the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, a doctor’s organization, have filed suits against the state during the past few weeks. They seek to obtain hundreds of millions in unspent dollars they say should be devoted to a state fund that subsidizes medical malpractice insurance.

According to the associations the state owes doctors and other health-care providers anywhere from $446 million to $616 million in reimbursements for bills paid into the fund known as MCare.

M-Care was established by Mr. Rendell, as a supplemental malpractice insurance program to pay malpractice claims that exceed the required basic liability coverage.

…

The actions were filed after remarks made by House Majority Leader H. William DeWeese, D-50th, of Greene County, Nov. 19, suggesting the Health Care Provider Retention Account could be used to fill a $500 million gap

“We are reluctantly filing this petition, wishing it wasn’t needed,” said Daniel J. Glunk, M.D., president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, “but based upon recent remarks about the Health Care Provider Retention Account, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the state’s projected budget deficit for 2009 makes this account a target to pay for non-health-care projects.”

Read more at the Bulletin.