American College of Emergency Physicians

Recent Reforms Enacted (since 2003)	Following a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that threw out the existing non-economic damage cap, the state enacted a new higher cap of $750,000 in medical liability cases in 2006. Expert witness qualifications were strengthened in 2011.
Emergency Care Provision	None
Reform Elements In Law	$750K cap Joint Liability Collateral Source Attorney Fee Limit Periodic Payments Excess Premium Fund Expert Witness
Constitutional Status of Reforms	State Supreme Court ruled that former non-economic cap was unconstitutional (2005). Legislature enacted a new cap in 2006.
Change in Insurance Rates	AMA reports at least one insurer raised rates as much as 40 to 100% in 2004.
Insurance Availability	Information not available.
Change in Physician Availability	Information not available.
Change in Cases Filed/Awards	112 paid claims in 2003 or 7.9 per 1000 active nonfederal physicians. US avg. was 18.8 per 1000. 85 paid claims in 2005 or 5.9 per 1000 active nonfederal physicians. US avg. was 17.1 per 1000. (Kaiser) 67 total number of paid claims for 2006 or 4.0 per 1,000 active, non-federal physicians. 59 paid claims in 2007.