Doctors Are Fleeing From Georgia?  FALSE.

Any assertion that the lack of tort reform measures will cause doctors to leave Georgia is specious. One recent study found that, “despite anecdotal reports that favorable state tort environments with strict … tort and insurance reforms attract and retain physicians, no evidence suggests that states with strong … reforms have done so.”16]

 Most importantly, the truth is that Georgia does not have a shortage of doctors.   In fact: there were 78% more doctors per capita practicing in Georgia in 1999 than there were in 1975.[17] 

 There is strong evidence that Georgia is attracting more and more doctors as opposed to less.  In a recent Forbes article, it was noted that a physician from Philadelphia had moved to Georgia in order to reduce his premium costs.  The article stated: “Dr. John Angstadt, 44, started looking to move out of suburban Philadelphia when his insurance increased from $14,000 in 1994 to $66,000 last November.  In December, he joined a large practice in Savannah, GA. where he now pays just $16,000 for insurance.  Now, instead of worrying about rising costs and lawsuits, he can practice medicine.”[18] 

Any claim that we do not have enough doctors in Georgia or that they are fleeing as a result of insurance premiums is pure fiction!

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