By Times staff writer, Associated Press
Published April 13, 2004
Radiologists who read mammograms would be granted immunity from patients' lawsuits under a controversial bill (SB 2306) that passed a Senate panel 6-4 Monday.
Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, billed the plan as a remedy for a field she said is shrinking in the face of medical malpractice claims. "Mammography is an imperfect test," Lynn told the Senate Health Care, Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, "but radiologists are held to a perfect standard."
Opponents, including the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, argued the remedy was based strictly on anecdotal evidence and did not take into account other issues that were leading radiologists to abandon mammography reading. Academy representative Debra Henley pointed to a Fort Walton Beach doctor who took out a newspaper advertisement saying she was abandoning mammography because of a insurance company's reimbursement policies.
Under medical malpractice insurance reforms lawmakers passed last year, no specific procedure or field of medicine is exempt from medical malpractice claims. Under state law, only publicly paid doctors now have broad immunity from malpractice claims.
- JONI JAMES
Condo owners would gain rights
A measure guaranteeing certain rights for condominium owners and requiring a statewide ombudsman for owners who may have disagreements with their associations got moving in the Senate Monday.
The measure (SB 2498) being pushed by Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, was approved unanimously by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, but needs approval from four more committees before it can reach the floor. It would say condo associations, when changing rules about pets, the ability of owners to rent out their units or the allocation of parking spaces, can only apply the rules going forward. That way, owners would remain subject to the rules they bought the condos under.
A similar measure in the House is awaiting a hearing from an appropriations subcommittee.
Autism coverage would be required
Health maintenance organizations and insurance companies would be required to cover some treatments for children with a range of autism-related diseases under a measure (SB 1102) approved by the Senate Health, Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, has three more committees before it can be heard by the full Senate.
Geller acknowledged it is tough to win approval for new health coverage mandates. But requiring coverage for the spectrum of autism disorders isn't that expensive, he said. "You're talking about maybe a dime a month - maybe - on a policy."
The measure would require coverage up to $6,000 a year for conditions including autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Rett's Syndrome.
More nursing home sprinklers
Hazardous areas in nursing homes, such as kitchens, would have to have sprinkler systems by the end of 2007 and entire nursing homes would have to have them by the end of 2009 under a bill (SB 2466) approved by the Senate Health, Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.
The bill also establishes a loan guarantee program to help homes defray the cost of installing the systems. Companion legislation is working its way through House committees.
