ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
rural physicians; study
committee
Establishes the Rural
Physician Study Committee (Committee) to review issues affecting the practice
of medicine in rural areas.
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 issues affecting the number of physicians practicing
in rural areas.
There may be some costs for
reimbursement of expenses for members; however, this is indiscernible.
1. Establishes the 11-member Committee to examine:
(a) government policies and
other factors that inhibit the practice of physicians in rural areas.
(b) the effects of
malpractice insurance on physicians’ practices in rural areas.
2. Specifies members are not eligible for compensation except for subsistence and travel expenses.
3. Allows the Committee to use legislative staff for assistance.
4. Requires the Committee to report its findings and recommendations by December 31, 2003 to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
5. Repeals the Committee on December 31, 2003.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 7, 2002