Powell Malpractice Rates Skyrocket

Powell, Wy –
Wyoming's medical malpractice problem has left a big imprint on Powell's Hospital. After learning earlier this year that they needed to find a new carrier, the hospital had to pay 350-thousand dollars more for medical liability insurance. The hospitals increase in deductible shot up from 5-thousand dollars to 100-thousand dollars. Powell Valley Healthcare administrator Rod Barton says they have the funds to handle the increase, although he worries that a similar increase could occur again next year. Barton says his community is paying close attention to both constitutional amendments on the ballot in November, and further legislative work on the medical malpractice situation that is facing the state.
Barton says it will take a number of solutions before the state starts seeing relief in medical malpractice rates.