Free Clinic Finagles Insurance

The Free People's Clink (FPC) is likely to remain open, at least for present. Early this week, Lloyd's of London, the insurance company famous for insuring pianist's hands and other such anomalies, has offered to provide malpractice insurance for $5,100 per year.

The main problem now confronting the Clinic is that the total amount must be paid in full immediately. This means either wiping out their small bank account of $7,000, or finding a civic-minded bank to front the money which can be paid back in installments at low interest rates.

Paying directly for the insurance will leave the Clinic with operating funds for only about one month, as costs average $1,600 every thirty days to keep the operation going. The only major source of new funding is the city, through community development revenue sharing funds supplied by the federal government. However, initial payments of this money are not expected until at least July, too late for the Clinic's more immediate needs.

The possibility of a bank giving the Clinic a loan which could be paid back on an installment basis has already been offered, but high interest rates are making this course prohibitive. Lloyd's agents are currently trying to convince one of the local financial institutions to give the FPC a break, but as yet, none have agreed.

One other hope is that the state legislature will come through with promised legislation for a statewide malpractice program. Although this would not be in effect until June (at the very earliest), state funding would give the Clinic about an 80 percent refund on their malpractice policy.

The crisis over malpractice insurance has been growing over the past two weeks, with a number of hospitals experiencing doctor strikes. One Southern hospital is now providing only emergency surgery for patients because its anesthesiologists cannot afford the $20,000 per year per doctor insurance companies are demanding for coverage.

Photo: Looking thru a microscope, this child was one of 50 to participate in the first Children's Free Health Fair sponsored by the Free Clinic last April 12. The next fair will be in early July.