Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990 TAG: 9006030038
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Although the disciplinary boards have grown in strength in recent years, the report by the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general said most of the cases are settled through consent agreements.
"As the proportion of cases so settled exceeds 50 percent, and indeed nears 100 percent in some places, one wonders if . . . the pressure to settle might not be leading some boards in some cases to act more leniently than the violation would warrant," the report said.
The report, to be released this week, said the state boards are getting more complaints and case referrals because of laws that require hospitals, insurance companies and others to report actions they take against physicians.
"Case backlogs remain a serious problem . . . [and] significant staff shortages continue to impede the boards' disciplinary efforts," Inspector General Richard Kusserow wrote in the draft report.
After reading the report, Rep. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., concluded that the different state medical boards still "don't have the tools to properly address these issues."
Wyden is the chief author of a law establishing a national databank for compiling actions taken against physicians. The databank is expected to go into operation this fall.
Most states require hospitals to report their actions against physicians and 33 states require insurance companies to report medical malpractice cases.
But federally supported peer organizations that review Medicare claims account for only a small number of cases referred to state boards, even though they could be a major source of leads about doctors who should be disciplined, the report said.
Although officials don't know how many complaints are referred to state medical boards each year, signs that the number is increasing are "widespread," according to the report.
by CNB