March 30, 2005

Chicago Tribune
Via e-mail

To the Editor:

Your March 27th article, “Doctors split over curbs for insurers,” failed to make a major point: ISMS supports insurance reform. What we don’t support are provisions that would raise physicians’ insurance premiums or further deter liability insurers from doing business in Illinois. This type of junk reform would further weaken Illinois’ medical liability insurance market and drive more doctors away.

I would like to shine some light on an insurance reform proposal that makes sense for Illinois. Senate Bill 150 – the comprehensive reform measure summarily dismissed by State Senate leadership – would further regulate liability insurers by making it easier for the state’s division of insurance to determine whether premium rates are set too high or too low. This bill also expands the already-extensive data reporting requirements for insurers, and establishes a web-based liability insurance resource center.

Opponents of meaningful lawsuit reform are trying to discredit ISMS and ISMIE by selling half truths and misinformation. Don’t buy their trash talk! ISMIE was created out of necessity by the Illinois State Medical Society when commercial insurers refused to do business here. ISMIE has managed to survive as an independent business entity in our state’s rocky legal environment, and will hopefully be here for the long haul.

What this state needs is meaningful litigation reform, including a cap on non-economic damage awards. What we don’t need are multi-millionaire plaintiff lawyers dictating pseudo-reform of Illinois’ few remaining insurers, as a way to preserve their litigation “cash cow”.

Sincerely,

Kenneth J. Printen, M.D.
President, Illinois State Medical Society

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