H.B. No. 0319

Excess liability account.

 

Sponsored By:                    Representative(s) Wasserburger, Gay and Jorgensen

 

AN ACT relating to a medical malpractice liability; creating the Wyoming excess liability account; specifying legislative findings and purposes; providing definitions; specifying requirements; specifying duties; providing for investment of monies from the account; and providing for effective dates.

 

1/25/2005               Bill Number Assigned

1/26/2005               H Received for Introduction

1/26/2005               H Introduced and Referred to H01

2/2/2005 H01 Recommended Amend and Do Pass

 

ROLL CALL

Ayes:  Representative(s) Alden, Buchanan, Lubnau, Olsen, Robinson, Watt and White

Nays:  Representative(s) Bagby and Landon

Ayes 7    Nays 2    Excused 0    Absent 0    Conflicts 0

 

2/2/2005 H Placed on General File

2/3/2005 H Rereferred to H02

2/4/2005 H02 Recommended Do Pass

 

ROLL CALL

Ayes:  Representative(s) Jorgensen, Meuli, Petersen, Philp and Warren

Nays:  Representative(s) Berger and Jones

Excused:  Representative(s) Simpson

Ayes 5   Nays 2    Excused 1   Absent 0    Conflicts 0

 

2/4/2005 H Placed on General File

 

HB0319HS001/ADOPTED

Page 4-line 2                            Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 4-line 4                            After "insurer" insert "and proof that if the insurance is cancelled for any reason that the carrier has agreed to notify the Wyoming attorney general".

Page 4-line 13                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 4-line 18                          After "the" delete balance of the line.

Page 4-line 19                          Delete "his counsel and the".

Page 4-line 20                          After "participate" insert "on behalf of the account".

Page 5-line 12                          Delete "commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 5-line 23                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 6-line 5                            Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 6-line 8                            Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 6-line 9                            After "." insert "The attorney general shall promulgate rules and regulations as he considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this act and shall take other appropriate action to carry out the provisions of this act.".

Page 6-line 16                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 6-line 19                          After "account" insert ", on an occurrence basis".

Page 6-line 22                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 6-line 22                          Delete "one".

Page 6-line 23                          Delete "million dollars ($1,000,000.00)" insert "six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000.00)".

Page 7-line 6                            Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 7-line 10                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 7-line 20                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 8-line 4                            Delete "insurance commissioner shall" insert "attorney general may".

Page 8-line 6                            Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 8-line 10                          After "fees" insert "related to the state's interest in the case".

Page 9-line 2                            After "." insert "The noncompliant physician and his malpractice liability insurance shall assume all responsibility for defending the claim and payment of any award under the claim.".

Page 9-line 17                          After "seeking" delete "any".

Page 9-line 18                          After "physician" insert "for noneconomic damages".

Page 9-line 20                          Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".

Page 9-line 22                          Delete "shall" insert "may".

Page 10-line 1                          Delete "insurance" insert "attorney general".

Page 10-line 2                          Delete "commissioner".

Page 11-line 9                          Before "reported" delete "if"; delete "can be".

Page 11-line 10                        Delete "or" insert "and".

Page 12-lines 1 through 4         Delete entirely and insert:

"(c)  Except as otherwise provided by law, personally identifiable information disclosed to the insurance commissioner pursuant to this section shall be confidential and shall not be subject to discovery nor be admissible in any civil action.".

Page 14-line 21                        Delete "insurance commissioner" insert "attorney general".  LANDON, CHAIRMAN

 

2/7/2005 H Passed CoW

 

HB0319H2001/FAILED

Page 1-line 5                            After ";" insert "providing a repeal date as specified;".

Page 1-line 10                          Delete "35-1-1009" insert "35-1-1010".

Page 12-After line 15               Insert:

"35-1-1010.  Sunset of provisions; reversion of funds."

(a)  W.S. 35-1-1001 through 35-1-1009 are repealed effective June 30, 2008.

(b)  Any funds remaining in the Wyoming excess liability account created by W.S. 35-1-1002 that are unencumbered, unobligated or unexpended as of June 30, 2008, and are not needed to pay any malpractice settlement or claim under this article based upon errors or omissions alleged to have occurred between the date this article was enacted into law and June 30, 2008 shall revert to the general fund.".

Page 15-line 14                        Delete "July 1, 2008" insert "June 30, 2008.". OSBORN

 

2/8/2005 H Passed 2nd Reading

 

HB0319H3001/ADOPTED

Page 3-line 10                          Delete "one million dollars ($1,000,000.00)" insert "six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000.00)".  LANDON

 

HB0319H3003/ADOPTED

Page 1-line 5                            After "account;" insert "authorizing corresponding modifications in medical malpractice liability insurance policies;".

Page 8-After line 10                 Insert:

"(j)  Any medical malpractice liability insurance policy issued or renewed in this state on or after the effective date of this article which provides required coverage under W.S. 35-1-1003(a)(i), may provide that the insurer's liability under the policy for a claim may be reduced by the amount paid from the account pursuant to W.S. 35-1-1004(a) for that claim.".  GAY

 

HB0319H3004/ADOPTED

Delete the Landon third reading amendment (HB0319H3001/A) entirely.

Further amend as follow:

Page 1-line 4                            After ";" insert "providing for a report;".

Page 1-line 10                          Delete "35-1-1009" insert "35-1-1008".

Page 3-line 8                            After "excess of" delete balance of the line.

Page 3-lines 9 through 11         Delete entirely and insert "five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), up to a maximum payment by the state from the account of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) per settlement or judgment.  In no event shall the state pay from the account any amounts in excess of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for coverage of any one (1) physician over the term of any agreement entered pursuant to W.S. 35-1-1003(a)(ii).".

Page 4-line 3                            After "insurance" insert "of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) coverage per occurrence".

Page 4-line 6                            Delete "an" insert "a written".

Page 4-line 10                          Before "three" insert "no less than".

Page 5-line 1                            After "To" insert "continuously".

Page 5-line 13                          Delete "thirty (30)" insert "fifteen (15)".

Page 5-line 14                          After "article" insert "or if the physician no longer carries the primary insurance coverage required under paragraph (a)(i) of this section".

Page 6-line 9                            Before "Subject" insert "No agreements shall be entered into under this section until final adoption of rules and regulations pursuant to this subsection.".

Page 6-line 13                          Delete "compensatory"; delete "three hundred".

Page 6-line 14                          Delete the line through "($350,000.00)" insert "five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)".

Page 6-line 17                          Delete "three".

Page 6-line 18                          Delete the line through "($350,000.00)" insert "five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)".

Page 6-line 19                          Delete the standing committee amendment (HB0319HS001/A) to this line; after "account" insert "to the extent payment is within the limitations of this article and only if the attorney general has fully participated in the case or has fully participated in and approved the settlement terms".

Page 6-line 21                          Delete "contract" insert "agreement".

Page 6-line 23                          Delete the standing committee amendment (HB0319HS001/A) to this line; delete the line through "($1,000,000.00)" insert "five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)".

Page 6-line 24                          After "claim" insert "and shall not pay more than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) in claims or judgments against any one (1) physician over the term of any agreement entered pursuant to W.S. 35-1-1003(a)(ii)".

Page 7-line 3                            Delete the line through "($1,000,000.00)" insert "five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) for any one (1) claim or judgment".

Page 8-line 14                          Delete "under".

Page 8-line 15                          Delete "this section".

Page 8-line 16                          Delete "contract" insert "agreement"; after "under" delete balance of the line and insert "W.S. 35-1-1004(b),".

Page 8-line 17                          Delete "section,".

Page 8-line 18                          After "account." insert "Any physician who violates the provisions of the agreement after any payment is made from the account on the physician's behalf shall be liable for repayment of the amount paid pursuant to this article.".

Page 9-line 7                            After "agreement" insert "or were made on behalf of a physician who subsequently violates any provision of the agreement".

Page 9-After line 7                               Insert "(d)  The attorney general may make any payment under this article under any reservation of rights he deems appropriate to protect the state's interests.".

Page 9-line 22                          Delete the standing committee amendment (HB0319HS001/A) to this line.

Page 9-line 24                          After "negotiations" insert "and allocation of damages between economic and noneconomic damages".

Page 10-line 1                          After "." insert "No payment shall be made from the account unless the attorney general fully participates in all aspects of each claim, demand or suit, including settlement negotiations and allocation of damages between economic and noneconomic damages.".

Page 10-line 15                        Delete "the particular".

Page 10-line 16                        Delete the line through "or".

Page 10-line 24                        After "Specialty" insert "and primary".

Page 12-lines 1 through 15       Delete entirely including the standing committee amendment (HB0319HS001/A) to these lines.

Page 15-After line 3                 Insert:

"Section 4. 

(a)  On or before September 1 of each year, the attorney general shall annually examine the excess liability account program and submit his report to the governor and the legislature.  The examination and report shall include an analysis of the following:

(i)  The number of claims paid from the account, including the dollar amount paid for each claim;

(ii)  A description of the level of participation of the attorney general in each case or settlement covered under the account;

(iii)  An analysis of how the account is affecting the number of physicians practicing in the state; and

(iv)  An analysis of how the account is affecting medical malpractice insurance premiums in the state.".

Renumber as necessary.  SIMPSON, BERGER, BROWN

 

2/9/2005 H Passed 3rd Reading

 

ROLL CALL

Ayes:  Representative(s) Alden, Bagby, Barnard, Berger, Brechtel, Diercks, Edwards, Esquibel, Gilmore, Gingery, Goggles, Hammons, Harshman, Harvey, Hastert, Hinckley, Iekel, Illoway, Jackson, Latta, Lubnau, Luthi, Martin, McOmie, Meuli, Morgan, Olsen, Osborn, Pedersen, Petersen, Powers, Reese, Robinson, Samuelson, Simpson, Thompson, Walsh, Warren, Wasserburger, Watt and Zwonitzer.

Nays:  Representative(s) Anderson, R., Brown, Buchanan, Bucholz, Childers, Cohee, Davison, Gay, Hageman, Jones, Landon, Lockhart, Miller, Philp, Quarberg, Semlek, Slater and White.

Excused:  Representative(s) Jorgensen

Ayes 41    Nays 18    Excused 1    Absent 0    Conflicts 0

 

2/10/2005               S Received for Introduction

2/11/2005               S Introduced and Referred to S01

3/2/2005 S Motion to Do Pass Failed

 

ROLL CALL

Ayes:  Senator(s) Decaria and Sessions

Nays:  Senator(s) Hanes and Ross

Excused:  Senator(s) Burns

Ayes 2    Nays 2    Excused 1    Absent 0    Conflicts 0

 

3/2/2005 S Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to SR 7-3(c)