But defending cases is not cheap. Estimates put the costs of the “system” at about $5 billion. And all types of cases cost money to defend [graphic in original post].
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ACEP News: Vol 31 – No 05 – May 2012Not surprisingly, cases which go to court cost more. But even those cases which are dropped, withdrawn, or dismissed now average about $25,000 each to defend. Since they comprise such a large percentage of all claims, the expenses to defend these cases total more than one third of all defense costs.
Those costs may not seem like a lot when we talk about the $2.5 trillion we spend on health care each year. But that’s the point I’m often trying to make. Malpractice costs aren’t “real” to the country, but they are very real to physicians and malpractice lawyers. Those defense costs result in increased premiums, and they’re going up. That’s totally worth talking about.
This recurring feature presents posts by various EM bloggers. Read the original post at theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/malpractice-defense-costs-are-real. Reprinted with permission.
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