Malpractice insurance rates up 14.8 percent

Rates for physicians insured through the Medical Liability Association of Nevada this month increased by an average of 14.8 percent.

The base rate increased by 12.5 percent, said Alice Molasky-Arman, the state's insurance commissioner.

In addition, rates increased by varying amounts for medical specialties.

In some cases, the increases even among individual specialties varied to reflect the cities in which a physician practices.

The largest increases will be paid by orthopedic surgeons who don't perform spinal surgery.

Their rates rose by 30.2 percent in Clark County and 42.8 percent elsewhere in the state.

Anesthesiologists saw the smallest increase, 5.8 percent.

Obstetricians and gynecologists saw a 12.5 percent increase in Clark County and a 23.5 percent elsewhere in the state.

Molasky-Arman said the increases are necessary to keep the plan solvent.

It was created in 2002, and only radiologists and neurosurgeons have seen substantial rate increases since then.

About 940 physicians statewide are insured by the Medical Liability Association of Nevada.

The new rates took effect July 3 for existing participants and July 1 for new business.