Study: Illinois healthcare providers pay highest malpractice costs in the U.S.

(The Center Square) – A new study has found that Illinois is home to the highest medical malpractice payments in the country.

Using data from the National Practitioner Data Bank, researchers from Noll-Law.com found that the average payment in Illinois is $746,186. Massachusetts was second at $690,405. No. 4 Minnesota is the only other Midwestern state in the top ten. Wisconsin is ranked No. 12.

Illinois’ other neighbors came in significantly lower. Indiana ranked No. 45 with an average malpractice payment of $318,740.

Bob Larsen is a medical malpractice defense attorney for Cunningham, Meyer & Vedrine, with offices in Chicago and Warrenville. He is also a member of the Illinois Defense Counsel. Larsen said the numbers he’s seen the last five years are astronomical.

“I’ve seen more verdicts in excess of $25 million in individual malpractice cases than I saw the entire rest of my career,” Larsen told The Center Square.

- Advertisement -

Larsen said he has about 30 years of experience with malpractice cases. He said doctors and hospitals face bankruptcy because of these verdicts.

“Doctors, especially individual doctors, are almost forced to settle a case whether they think the case has merit or not, because if they lose, nobody can afford insurance up to $25 million,” Larsen said.

Larsen said attorneys used to be embarrassed to ask for that amount of money.

According to Larsen, everyone pays the price for big malpractice payments.

“Seven million dollars means they’re not hiring new nurses. It means they’re not buying the next MRI machine or they’re not opening up the next wing of their hospital and doing the things that they do to provide care,” Larsen said.

Larsen said the Illinois Supreme Court has blocked reform efforts by lawmakers.

- Advertisement -

“There’s always some technicality they find,” Larsen said.

He added that Illinois has a requirement that a doctor certify a case as having merit.

“It used to be somewhat more difficult to get that. Now it’s sort of a cottage industry. Anybody can find a 262 report. Several times, the Illinois legislature passed rules saying, ‘well, somebody at least has to at least say who they are and identify that person,’ and every time they’ve done that, the Illinois Supreme Court has struck it down. They’ve struck down caps and other things, so that those protections that might help doctors in these situations have just gone away,” Larsen said.

A study commissioned by Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Illinois revealed that each person in the Chicago metropolitan region pays an annual “tort tax” of $2,321.

CALA Illinois Executive Director Phil Melin said the big malpractice payouts filter through the economy and land at the feet of consumers.

“Here’s what happens: the insurance companies look at the big verdicts and they say, ‘It’s more risky for us, more expensive for us to insure physicians and medical groups in Illinois because the court system gives out big verdicts. What do they do? They have to increase their insurance rates,” Melin said. “The doctors and the medical groups have to buy insurance, and so it becomes more expensive. Their premiums go higher … and so they turn around and try to pass on the costs of their higher insurance rates to the consumers. That, then manifests onto the consumers, and when we buy our health insurance, it’s more expensive.”

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Everyday Economics: Brace yourself for higher market volatility this week

This week’s data will offer fresh clues on the...

Trouble Sleeping? This Science-Backed App Could Change Your Life

Sleep quality is a huge determinant of our health,...

Op-Ed: Hispanic families in New Mexico push back on gender policies

In a state where more than 1 million residents...

Senate committee to vote on bills combating antisemitism on campuses

Legislation targeting harassment of Jewish students at higher education...

The FDA Is Failing – Here’s What Needs To Change

We’ve long trusted the FDA to protect public health,...

Illinois bill helps homeowners fight back against squatters

(The Center Square) – With instances of squatting sharply...

Voters focused on prices, tariffs as Trump wraps up first 100 days

American voters are focused on prices, tariffs and illegal...

WATCH: Trump, Rubio say Russia-Ukraine war is ‘endable’

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio...

More like this
Related

Everyday Economics: Brace yourself for higher market volatility this week

This week’s data will offer fresh clues on the...

Trouble Sleeping? This Science-Backed App Could Change Your Life

Sleep quality is a huge determinant of our health,...

Op-Ed: Hispanic families in New Mexico push back on gender policies

In a state where more than 1 million residents...

Senate committee to vote on bills combating antisemitism on campuses

Legislation targeting harassment of Jewish students at higher education...