A few months ago, we told you about the flood of doctors entering the state of Texas in the wake of new medical malpractice caps being enacted by the state legislature. As it turns out, the problem hasn't gotten better--and may even be worse--since we last reported on it.
As some readers may know, Texas capped noneconomic damages in med mal suits at $250,000 and death suits at $1.6 million. That's one of the country's lowest caps. That, combined with the state's lack of an income tax, has generated a landslide in new applications from physicians.
With doctors still streaming into the state, it's taking as long as six months for the Texas Medical Board to process applications to practice in the state. Over the four years since the state enacted the caps, the volume of applicants has continued to grow. Applications jumped 30 percent during the last fiscal year alone.
To find out more about this trend:
- read this New York Times article
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