Consumer group ranks SC last for doctor discipline

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

As we reported previously, the volume of disciplinary actions taken has fallen in the past few years, dropping 14.4 percent from 2005, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards. Now, consumer group Public Citizen has released a report putting its own spin on the Federation's numbers, focusing on "serious" actions against doctors. It contends that lower rates equal less protection for patients.

According to Public Citizen's analysis, the number of serious disciplinary actions against physicians has fallen 17 percent since 2004, resulting 553 fewer such actions. South Carolina had the lowest rate of serious actions per 1,000 physicians in the state. Other states it identifies as poor performers on this scale include Maryland, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, it notes that 10 states have boosted their rates of serious actions, including Arkansas, Delaware, Vermont and Rhode Island.

To learn more about the rankings:
- read this Public Citizen press release
- check out the report

Related Articles:
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SC court says uninsured not guaranteed discounts

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:59:57 -0400

A high court in South Carolina has ruled that state law doesn't force hospitals to give uninsured patients the same discounts offered insured patients. A lower court had held that a loophole in state law gave all patients access to the same discounts through 2004, which could cut 50 percent or more off a standard hospital bill according to some estimates. However, the South Carolina Supreme Court didn't buy this argument, noting that the type of contracts referred to by the 1960s-era law weren't used by hospitals any more.

Attorneys for the uninsured patients, meanwhile, say they aren't going to give up. They're going to continue to press a lawsuit against several state hospitals alleging that the uninsured patients were cheated. Because they can no longer base their case on state law--which required hospitals to offer anyone the best rate possible if the bills were paid within seven days--they're going forward using the notion of common law and fairness.

To learn more about the case:
- read this piece from The State

Related Articles:
California opens hospital discount listing site. Report
SC court examines discounts for uninsured. Report
MN hospitals extend uninsured discounts. Report
MN health systems pay back uninsured patients. Report
Legacy Health settles improper billing suit. Report
Catholic Healthcare West uninsureds get 35 percent refund. Report