While the MPLI issues may have been addressed to the satisfaction of both parties in recent contract agreements reached between some physician groups and individual Dignity Health hospitals, details of those agreements remain private and Dignity has not indicated that it will retract these contract requirements. Meanwhile, at least one other major health system has followed Dignity’s lead. In May 2012, Adventist Health System proposed raising its MPLI limits as well.

“ACEP’s priority is patient access and the delivery of quality emergency medical care. I don’t see how increasing liability costs to providers is going to improve patient access and decrease patient costs,” said Dr. Kivela. “It’s a disturbing new trend that’s going to raise the cost of health care.

Hospitals need to consider the ramifications of their actions in light of the actual data,” he continued. “The important thing here is what’s in the best interests of the patient. Asking the hospital administrators who are requesting these clauses to point out where these incidents have actually occurred rather than in theory is an important thing to do.”

Dr. Sokolove hates to think where such changes will steer the future of health care. “Everybody is talking about how we can deliver more health care to patients for fewer dollars, and this not only does absolutely nothing to help that, but it just adds gasoline onto the fire of spiraling expenses,” he said. “It really is the bad idea of the year.”