Assigned to HEA & GOV                                                                                                                             AS ENACTED

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FINAL REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1240

 

rural physicians; study committee

 

Purpose

 

Establishes the Rural Physician Study Committee (Committee) to review issues affecting the practice of obstetrical medicine in rural areas.

 

Background

 

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.

 

There is no cost associated with the provisions of this bill.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Establishes the eight-member Committee to examine:

 

(a) malpractice insurance pools and malpractice insurance premium sharing.

(b) the effects of malpractice insurance on the practice of obstetrical medicine and hospitals and community health centers in rural areas.

(c) any other information related to obstetrical services in Arizona.

 

2.      Specifies members are not eligible for compensation.

 

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.

 

Amendments Adopted by Government Committee

 

1.      Reduces the number of House and Senate Committee members to two each.

 

2.      Specifies the physician member must practice obstetrics.

 

3.      Adds to the Committee the Director of the rural health office or the Director's designee and a representative from a malpractice insurer.

 

4.      Eliminates reimbursement for Committee members.

 

5.      Changes the duties of the Committee to focus on obstetrical medicine and the effects of malpractice insurance.

 

Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives

 

·        Makes a technical change.

 

Senate Action                                                            House Action

 

GOV                2/11/02            DPA    5-0-1-0                        PIRA               4/02/02     DPA     7-0-0-3

HEA                2/12/02            DP       6-1-1-0                        HEA                4/15/02     DP        6-0-0-4

3rd Read           3/21/02                        19-10-1-0        3rd Read           4/22/02                   41-16-3-0

Final Read        4/30/02                        23-5-2

 

 

Signed by the Governor 5/6/02

Chapter 169

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

May 15, 2002