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Pa. doctors drop boycott threat
SCRANTON, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Doctors in eastern Pennsylvania who were threatening to walk off the job Wednesday because of high malpractice costs will work as usual, thanks to a $220 million bailout proposal by Gov.-elect Ed Rendell. Margo Opsasnick, the chief executive officer of the main doctors' group pushing for a compromise, said the 42 doctors who had threatened to stop working were pleased with Rendell's proposal. "We applaud Gov.-elect Rendell for his courageous efforts to solve the liability crisis, and we appreciate his intent to work out a solution before he has officially taken office," Opsasnick said. "We look forward to working with him in the future to forge a long-term solution." Under the proposal, Rendell said he will cut doctors' payments to a state insurance fund by two-thirds, and have insurers pay into the fund. He said health insurance companies would finance the bailout through a one-time surcharge on their reserves, and insurers will not be allowed to make up for the expense in the form of higher insurance premiums. As a result of the deal, Opsasnick said, the doctors -- who range from neurosurgeons to orthopedists to ob-gyns and serve 37,000 patients a year -- will report to work as usual Wednesday. Rendell takes office on January 20. "We are all extremely relieved to be able to continue to serve our patients rather than being forced to close our doors," said Donald Preate, a urologist and president of Delta Medix.
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