Changes In Physician Supply And Scope Of Practice During A Malpractice Crisis: Evidence From Pennsylvania

Authors

Michelle M. Mello
David M. Studdert
Jennifer Schumi
Troyen A. Brennan
William M. Sage, Texas A&M University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2007

Journal Title

Health Affairs

ISSN

0278-2715

DOI

10.1377/hlthaff.26.3.w425

Abstract

The extent to which liability costs cause physicians to restrict their scope of practice or cease practicing is controversial in policy debates over malpractice “crises.” We used insurance department administrative data to analyze specialist physician scope-of-practice changes and exits in Pennsylvania in 1993–2002. In most specialties the proportions of high-risk specialists restricting their scope of practice did not increase during the crisis; however, the supply of obstetrician-gynecologists decreased by 8 percent in the three years following premium increases in 1999. We discuss methodological issues that could explain the disparate findings regarding physician supply effects in studies using administrative data sets and survey data.

First Page

425

Last Page

435

Num Pages

11

Volume Number

26

Issue Number

2

Publisher

Project HOPE

Recommended Citation

Michelle M. Mello, David M. Studdert, Jennifer Schumi, Troyen A. Brennan & William M. Sage, Changes In Physician Supply And Scope Of Practice During A Malpractice Crisis: Evidence From Pennsylvania, 26 Health Affs. 425 (2007).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/1712