House of Representatives

SB 1240

rural physicians; study committee

Sponsors: Senators Arzberger, Brown, Guenther, et al.

DPA	Committee on Public Institutions & Rural Affairs
DP	Committee on Health
dpA	Caucus and COW
dpA	Third Read
DPA	As Passed the House
x	As Transmitted to the Governor

SB 1240 establishes an eight member Rural Physician Study Committee (Committee) to examine matters affecting the practice of medicine in rural areas of Arizona.

History

Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee recently closed its obstetrics (OB) ward because four of the six physicians who performed OB services ceased their OB practice due to the increased cost and decreased availability of malpractice insurance. With this closure, the only operative OB ward in Cochise County is in Sierra Vista. White Mountain Regional Hospital in Springerville is also in the process of closing its OB ward.

According to the Pima County Medical Society, there are various causes of the shortage of physicians, but the leading factor is the rising cost of malpractice insurance. According to the rural health office at the University of Arizona, physicians are leaving their practice because of rising insurance costs, which leads to hospital departments closing and deters new physicians from coming to rural Arizona to practice.

S.B. 1240 establishes a study committee to review malpractice insurance issues affecting the practice of obstetrical medicine in rural areas.

Provisions

· Creates an eight member Rural Physician Study Committee to examine the following:

- Federal and state programs relating to malpractice insurance pools and malpractice

insurance premium sharing.

- The effect of the cost and availability of malpractice insurance on:

1. The practice of obstetrical medicine.

2. Hospitals and community health centers, as well as, review other information

relating to the availability of obstetrical services in rural areas of Arizona.

· Specifies requirements for membership of the Committee.

· Stipulates that the Committee may use the services of legislative staff as required.

· Requires the Committee, on or before December 31, 2003, to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Governor. In addition, a copy of the report must be provided to the Secretary of State and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

· Repeals the Committee on December 31, 2003.

SB 1240 was amended in the Public Institutions & Rural Affairs Committee as follows:

· Makes a technical change.

The PIRA amendment was adopted in the Committee of the Whole.

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

45th Legislature

Second Regular Session 2 June 4, 2002

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------