Press enter after choosing selection

Paper Radio

Paper Radio image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
April
Year
1975
OCR Text

The Free People's Clinic may be forced to shut its doors to the community starting May 2 because of inability to obtain malpractice insurance.

The scandal over malpractice insurance has recently surfaced to public attention, with high prices preventing private physicians and small clinics from obtaining policies. For the medical profession, such insurance is essential, and the clinic could not go on treating the public without it.

"The clinic is a shoestring operation," explained Carla Rappaport, coordinator. "We can't work without money in the bank. Even if we do find insurance, it will be two to three times what we are paying now, and we would end up having no money left to operate."

Two weeks ago, the Clinic discovered their current malpractice policy would be discontinued at the end of the month. The late notice from the insurance company left little time to find a new insurer for a policy many companies are already reluctant to take on. The recent high awards given to patients in malpractice suits (one recent case involved a settlement of over $1 million) are causing insurance companies to discontinue these policies.

"Out only hopes for income are obtaining money from the city in the form of community development revenue sharing, a recent request for funds from the United Way, and the community," said Rappaport.

Starting earlier this year, the Clinic switched from a donation system to a sliding scale for patients to raise additional funds because money was tight. But according to Rappaport, this has only brought in slightly more than the original system. The Clinic has not had a large enough staff to do billing, and most people just forget to pay.

One source of income which may help is the state, as the Clinic has just become an official Medicaid provider. People who have Medicaid cards should bring them to the Clinic, so the State will pay for the visit. Rappaport suggests people who may be eligible for Medicaid can check at the Clinic to find out requirements.

Most important will be help from the community. The Clinic can use donations, as well as people paying when they use the Clinic and can afford to do so. Fund-raising events will probably be scheduled in the next few weeks in hopes of raising some immediate funds.

"If people use the Clinic, they should help support it," Rappaport said. "We should be responsible to the people, not beholden to the government because that is where most funds come from.”