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Associated PressHealth officials step in to provide treatment as doctors await action to curb malpractice insurance costs.
JACKSONVILLE - North Florida health officials implemented an emergency plan to ensure that patients will still receive treatment as dozens of doctors suspended their practices Friday, blaming a Legislature that hasn't acted to curb rising medical malpractice insurance premiums.
The Florida House and Senate, which adjourned their annual session Friday, both passed bills that they said would lower medical malpractice rates, but there were major differences and a compromise will have to be worked out, possibly in the special session set to begin May 12.
That stalemate has frustrated doctors statewide and caused more than 100 Jacksonville-area doctors to suspend their practices until it's resolved.
The doctors support the bill the House passed, which calls for a $250,000 cap on noneconomic awards for pain and suffering in malpractice lawsuits, but Senate President Jim King has resisted imposing such limits. Lawyers who represent malpractice victims say rate increases come from insurance companies' stock market losses, not large lawsuit payouts.
The Duval County Health Department, working with the county's hospitals and doctors not participating in the job action, is trying to ensure that patients receive treatment.
"It's not going to be business as usual. There will be potential for unwanted side effects," said Jerry Goldhagen, the county's health director.
"We're planning to be in this situation for the duration," Goldhagen said.
The Duval County Emergency Operations Center began working Friday as a clearinghouse for information on where to get treatment.
Health Department spokeswoman Patricia Frank said most doctors were not suspending their practices until Friday evening, although some began their walkouts earlier.
By Friday afternoon, the Health Department had heard from three patients who were unable to get treatment. It was able to find doctors for them.
Shands Jacksonville, a public hospital, will handle many of the cases. Its doctors are not participating in the job action.
Gov. Jeb Bush has said malpractice insurance reform remains a priority, and he wants the Legislature to take it up in the special session.