Doctor Cautions Litigation Reform Won’t Mean Immediate Insurance Rate Declines

This year’s version of litigation reform moves forward in the Legislature with hopes that passage will lead to lower medical malpractice rates for Missouri’s doctors. But, it might be a while before the lower rates kick in. It’s a given that the General Assembly will pass a litigation reform bill and send it to Governor Matt Blunt, who will sign it. But there aren’t too many in the legal or medical communities who think that will end the matter. Doctor Richard Jennett, President of the Jefferson City Medical Group, says legal action is all but assured. So, the insurance companies are going to take a wait and see position before lowering rates. Doctor Jennett says physicians shouldn’t expect insurance rates to level off and eventually start dropping until the insurance companies have the chance to see how the courts deal with the legislation.