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Impact of State Laws Limiting Malpractice Awards on Geographic Distribution of Physicians

Table 1A: Supply of Physicians in States with Caps on Malpractice Awards for Noneconomic Damages: 1970-2000a

States with caps in 2000 Year cap law was passed Doctors per 100,000 county residents in 1970 Doctors per 100,000 county residents in 2000 Percent increase in supply of doctors
Alaska 1986 66 130 97.0%
California 1975 127 187 47.2%
Colorado 1990 74 140 89.2%
Hawaii 1986 108 239 121.3%
Idaho 1990 70 95 35.7%
Indianab 1975 61 108 77.1%
Kansas 1988 66 97 47.0%
Louisianab 1975 55 112 103.6%
Maryland 1986 98 239 143.9%
Massachusetts 1986 163 331 103.1%
Michigan 1986 71 125 76.1%
Missouri 1986 51 82 60.8%
Montana 1995 69 131 89.9%
New Mexicob 1976 65 119 83.1%
North Dakota 1995 60 125 108.3%
South Dakota 1986 57 110 93.0%
Utah 1986 62 109 75.8%
Virginiab 1976 66 215 225.8%
West Virginia 1986 68 124 82.4%
Wisconsin 1985 67 137 104.5%
Average supply of doctors in all States with caps in 2000 69 135 95.7%

aStates that overturned their caps are not listed here (go to Table 1B for over-turned caps).
bCap on total damages.

Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures,10,33 American Tort Reform Association,34 McCullough, Campbell and Lane,35 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,22 and the 2002 Area Resource File of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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