PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Establishing a market assistance plan for medical malpractice insurance.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.22.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commissioner is concerned about the availability, adequacy, and the cost of medical malpractice insurance. Many purchasers have notified the commissioner about problems regarding significant rate increases, their difficulty in insuring their entire risk, or their difficulty in finding an insurer. The commissioner will discuss the problems in the medical malpractice market with insurers and purchasers. The solution may include rules to establish a market assistance plan.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kacy Scott, P.O. Box 40255, Olympia, WA 98504-0255, e-mail KacyS@oic.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-3109, by May 17, 2002.
April 2, 2002
Mike Kreidler
Insurance Commissioner