Senate restricts Medicaid lawsuits

The Clarion-Ledger, 2/28/8

Private physicians, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants could be given some protection in medical malpractice lawsuits filed by Medicaid patients under a bill passed by the Mississippi Senate Wednesday.

Senate Bill 2998 would limit the damages a recipient of the subsidized health-care program can receive to $500,000.

Supporters say it could help end a doctor shortage in the state and provide an incentive to treat the low-income patients.