Current News

US Supreme Court Decides Groundbreaking Medical Device Case
February 28, 2008 | A Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court could nullify hundreds of cases against medical device manufacturers.

Continuing Medical Education
February 5, 2008 | As you know, physicians are required by state law to obtain Category 1 or Category 2 Continuing Medical Education credits in patient safety and risk management in order to maintain a Pennsylvania medical license.

Nearly Half of Older Physicians to Opt Out of Patient Care
November 18, 2007 | A national survey released last month revealed that 48% of all doctors ages 50-65 are planning to retire, seek non-clinical jobs, work part-time, close their practices to new patients, and/or significantly reduce the number of patients they see in the next one to three years.

Proposed Blues Merger Raises Many Serious Questions
November 1, 2007 | Specialty surgeons - including the ones staffing Pennsylvania's trauma centers and emergency rooms - urged state regulators to take a closer look at the impact a proposed merger between Pennsylvania's two largest insurers will have on businesses, health care professionals, and their patients.

Superior Court Strengthens Certificate of Merit Rule
October 12, 2007 | A recent Superior Court decision is another reminder of the critical role appellate court judges play in the medical liability system in Pennsylvania.

Superior Court Weakens 'Same Specialty' Requirement for Expert Witness Testimony
September 21, 2007 | Despite a state Supreme Court decision earlier this year, which forbade a podiatrist from testifying as an expert against an orthopaedic surgeon, the state Superior Court (which is one step lower than the state Supreme Court) last month weakened the 'same specialty' requirement for expert witness testimony.

Sen. White calls for "Blues" merger to be center stage this fall
September 7, 2007 | State Sen. Don White (R-Indiana, Armstrong), has been been an advocate for increased state oversight of the proposed merger between Highmark and Independence Blue Cross. In a column to newspapers statewide this week, Sen. White called on his colleagues in the General Assembly and the Governor to make the Blues Merger a priority on this fall's legislative agenda.

Primary Limit Determination
August 30, 2007 | Coalition of three specialty organizations thank Governor Rendell for primary limit determination. View the video here.

Give Patients a Voice
August 24, 2007 | This fall healthcare policies will be debated and voted on in Harrisburg and many will impact a patient's access to specialty medical care. Now is the time to sign up patients for 3PSC's e-mails so they can stay informed and get involved in making a stronger healthcare system in Pennsylvania.

Physician Shortage
August 17, 2007 | An article in the summer edition of Proto Magazine forecasts a national physician shortage, which will worsen just when an aging population most needs ready access to medical care. "At least one estimate predicts the physician shortfall could reach 200,000 by 2020, almost a quarter of the 850,000 doctors now practicing in the United States," according to the article "Are We Running Out of Doctors?"

Attorney Seeks Clients to Fight Blues Merger
August 3, 2007 | A Washington, D.C.-based attorney has been spending time in Pennsylvania talking with labor unions and health benefits consortiums to recruit clients to fight the proposed merger between Highmark and Independence Blue Cross, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article last week.

Medical Liability Primary Insurance Levels Unchanged for 2008
July 26, 2007 | The Rendell Administration issued good news for Pennsylvania physicians this afternoon. Medical liability coverage purchased in the private market will remain the same.

One for the Home Team: Supreme Court Upholds Expert Witness Definition
July 19, 2007 | A landmark court decision forbade a podiatrist from testifying as an expert against an orthopaedic surgeon, even when the alleged negligence occurred prior to May 20, 2002, the effective date of Act 13, 2002. Last month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court narrowly upheld a provision from Act 13 which defined the use of expert witness in medical liability trials.

Expert Witness: Does Your Attorney Subscribe to IDEX?
July 13, 2007 | IDEX maintains over 1,000,000 records from previous cases in which an expert witness has given trial or deposition testimony. Over 6,000 records are added to the database each month. IDEX offers physicians and their attorneys an excellent chance of finding helpful information on the experts who testify in medical liability cases. IDEX provides the following services exclusively for the defense:

Neighboring states fear medical liability rate increases
July 5, 2007 | Pennsylvania's doctors, especially high-risk surgeons are concerned that a state-mandated change in insurance could result in an overnight 20 percent increase in their premiums according to July 1st's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

14% Increase Is Approved in Malpractice Insurance
July 3, 2007 | The Spitzer administration approved a 14 percent increase in medical malpractice insurance rates on Monday, the largest rate increase in a decade. Doctors' groups protested angrily, but the administration said the move was necessary to prevent "perhaps an irreversible crisis," since insurers were having trouble staying in the business.

PA physicians fearing boost in malpractice insurance fees
July 1, 2007 | Pennsylvania's doctors, especially high-risk surgeons and physicians from the east who pay higher medical malpractice rates, worry that a state-mandated change in insurance could result in an overnight 25 percent increase in their premiums.

3PSC, PNS and POS Band Together
June 29, 2007 | Three statewide specialty physician organizations came together to request the Governor maintain the current medical liability coverage levels in order to stabilize premiums for 2008.

PEW Survey: Most Oft Sued Docs in PA Are High-Risk Specialists
| The public has been bombarded with claims that "a few bad apples in the medical profession account for most of the malpractice claims." Who wouldn't want to get rid of bad apples?