Long-term health care review panels are topic of Tuesday’s ‘Brooks & Company’
STAFF REPORT
Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 — Long-term health care and legislation to create medical review panels will be the topic of discussion on WBRT’s “Brooks & Company” radio show, 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, on 1320 AM, 97.1 FM and streaming live online.
Kara Meredith, executive director of Life Care of Bardstown, will be host Jim Brooks’ guest to discuss how legislation now under consideration in the General Assembly could benefit long-term care by reducing the number of frivolous lawsuits.
Senate Bill 9 was voted out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee last week. The measure would set up medical review panels to hear complaints against long-term care facilities. Each panel would be made up of one attorney and three physicians. The attorney would serve as panel chairperson but would not be able to vote.
The medical review panels would be advisory only and its opinion would be admissible in court. The goal is to a reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits.
The review panels are needed, industry experts say, citing these facts:
Kentucky has the highest long-term health care liability costs;
Kentukcy’s long-term health care industry faces more lawsuits filed than any other state.
Medical review panels would not interfere with patients’ ability to sue providers for negligent care or injury. Information gathered by the review panel can be used to assist patient’s or their families.
Tune in at 11 a.m. Tuesday on WBRT AM 1320, 97.1 FM or streaming online, www.NelsonCountyGazette.com or www.WBRTCountry.com.
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