VIRGINIA COMPROMISE WOULD HELP COMMUNITY HOSPITALS.

The Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee has approved a compromise proposal to ease the burden of malpractice insurance premiums on high-risk doctors and community hospitals.

The compromise was worked out by members of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Medical Society of Virginia, recent adversaries in the fight over tort reform.

Under the plan, doctors who malpractice insurance premiums have increase by at least 25 percent or who have been refused coverage by one or more private carriers would qualify to seek insurance through the Risk Management Division of the state's Treasury Department.

Sole community hospitals, of which there are 14 in Virginia, would be eligible if they experienced a premium increase of 10 percent or more.

VTLA Executive Director Jack L. Harris told the committee the RMD would be able to get coverage more cheaply because there would be no profit motive.

But State Treasurer Jody Wagner testified, "I'm not convinced that we are actually a solution to the problem," which she sees as one of cost rather than access.

"We're very concerned that we may not be able to provide the doctors with any cheaper coverage than what they're currently receiving," she said.