On August 15, GNYHA testified at a field hearing spearheaded by Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn) at Brooklyn Borough Hall on the escalating cost of medical malpractice insurance. Several elected officials from the New York State Legislature joined Representative Towns as part of the panel for the "Joint Federal State Investigation into the Access and Equality of New York State Medical Malpractice," including Assemblywoman Annette Robinson (D-Brooklyn), Senator Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn), Senator Martin Golden (R-C-Brooklyn), and Senator John Sampson (D-Brooklyn). The purpose of the hearing was to examine the reasons for the high cost of malpractice insurance in New York State and the resulting impact on access to health care services for Brooklyn patients. 

In addition to hearing testimony from GNYHA, the panel heard testimony from Susan Donnellan, Deputy Superintendent for Policy for the State Insurance Department; Lisa Eng, M.D. on behalf of the Medical Society of the State of New York; and Edward Amsler, Vice President of the Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company. Several GNYHA members also testified at the hearing, including David Rosen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, the Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, and Flushing Hospital Medical Center; Claudia Caine, Chief Operating Officer of Lutheran Medical Center, and Vincent Calamia, M.D., Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of Victory Memorial Hospital.

GNYHA's testimony reviewed the severe financial pressure hospitals are facing as a result of ever-increasing medical malpractice costs. Continued hefty increases are especially difficult for New York hospitals after many years of losses. According to GNYHA estimates, New York hospitals now collectively spend more than $1.3 billion annually on medical malpractice insurance premiums, up from $800 million in 2000. 

At the hearing, GNYHA also reviewed the numerous activities undertaken by member hospitals to improve the quality of patient care and reduce medical errors. GNYHA also encouraged the State Legislature to address the issue through long overdue reforms and cited specific legislative proposals advanced at the State level by various legislators as well as its own proposal. For a detailed description of those proposed reforms, see this week's issue of Health Care News In-Depth 76.1 KB.