American College of Emergency Physicians

Oregon

Recent Reforms Enacted (since 2003)	Sets aside $10 million per year from the state-owned workers’ compensation insurer to subsidize portions of liability premiums paid by physicians in rural parts of the state. Qualifying OBs could have up to 80% of their premiums paid. Most others would have up to 40% of their premiums subsidized.
Emergency Care Provision	None
Reform Elements In Law	Joint Liability Collateral Source Premium Subsidy I’m Sorry Law
Constitutional Status of Reforms	Current reforms untested. State Supreme Court overturned limit on noneconomic damages in 1999.
Change in Insurance Rates	AMA reports at least one insurer raised rates as much as 40 to 100% in 2004. Northwest Physicians Mutual reports Obs and neurosurgeons paid $21,895 and $23,563 in 1999 and $72,112 and $70,386 in 2003.
Insurance Availability	Information not available.
Change in Physician Availability	43.4% of neurosurgeons, 27.1% of orthopedic surgeons, and 23.5% of Ob-gyns reported they stopped providing certain services or would soon do so. (AMA)
Change in Cases Filed/Awards	Since the supreme court overturned the limit on non-economic damages, the avg. liability payment has increased 90% from $247,000 to $470,000. (ECONorthwstJuly 2004) 111 paid claims in 2003 or 11.6 per 1000 active nonfederal physicians. US avg. was 18.8 per 1000. 75 paid claims in 2005 or 7.8 per 1000 active nonfederal physicians. US avg. was 17.1 per 1000. (Kaiser) 86 total number of paid claims for 2006 or 7.2 per 1,000 active, non-federal physicians. 90 paid claims in 2007.