Thanks to a new and sweeping effort at healthcare reform, Kentucky healthcare providers now need to know what to expect if they receive a “Proposed Complaint” from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services
The new law, Senate Bill 4, has a wide reach, encompassing all manner of providers, from individual physicians to health facilities and systems. Although modeled after a similar law in Indiana, the Kentucky version is different in ways that lead to some uncertainty how it may affect practitioners. It requires peer review of medical malpractice complaints by medical review panels before a medical malpractice case could go to court. The panels must render an opinion within nine months after the proposed complaint has been filed, or the plaintiff is free to bring the action into court. A complaint may bypass the panel and go directly to court only in the event that all parties agree. As a practical matter, this means that all providers in receipt of a Proposed Complaint should notify their insurance carrier as soon as possible to ensure that coverage is timely triggered.
Creation of the Panel
Panels consist of an attorney, who is the panel chairperson, and three healthcare providers. Each party can select one of the panel providers, and the two selected providers then select the third member. The law allows for selection of those persons in the same or similar specialty as the provider under review. All healthcare providers licensed in Kentucky to practice in their profession are eligible for selection to this panel, and can only be excused for “good cause” if chosen. Most believe that sufficient good cause shown will be similar to the good cause for being excused from serving on a jury. If a member of the panel fails to comply with the duties required, they may be sanctioned by the court. Healthcare providers in Kentucky need to be aware of their duty to serve on medical review panels if selected through this process.
Panel Process and Effect of the Panel Opinion
Once the panel is set, the parties may submit the evidence identified under the statute. The panel then is responsible for reviewing the submitted evidence and rendering an opinion whether the evidence supports the conclusion that a practitioner acted within the appropriate standard of care and whether this failure, if any, was a substantial factor in a negative outcome for the patient. Two members of the panel must agree on the conclusion. If the plaintiff decides to file suit after the panel renders the opinion, the opinion may be used as an expert opinion in the ensuing litigation. Notably, the panel members may be called as witnesses to testify on their review of the case.
Response to the Law
Supporters believe that the panel process will enable earlier resolution of frivolous claims and assist in reducing the litigation costs that effectively drive up costs of malpractice insurance, while attracting more quality healthcare providers to practice in Kentucky. There are various criticisms of the law, including whether the provisions may affect a plaintiff’s access to the court system and therefore fail to pass constitutional muster. Another criticism contemplates whether this law merely adds another administrative burden to the process. The new law requires participation and effort from the healthcare and legal communities, and will put additional demands on those already focused on caring for their patients and practice. As medical review panels go into effect, only time will tell if the goals of this law will be met in practice.
Kathryn Eckert and Amber Knouff recently joined the new Medical Malpractice and Professional Malpractice Defense practice group at McBrayer after practice experience at the Fulkerson Law Office. They practice out of the Lexington office and can be reached at keckert@mmlk.com and aknouff@mmlk.com, respectively, or by phone at (859) 231-8780.