RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Differences In The Obstetric Malpractice Claims Filed By Medicaid And Non-Medicaid Patients JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice JO J Am Board Fam Med FD American Board of Family Medicine SP 623 OP 627 DO 10.3122/jabfm.5.6.623 VO 5 IS 6 A1 Laura-Mae Baldwin A1 Thomas Greer A1 Rae Wu A1 Gary Hart A1 Michael Lloyd A1 Roger A. Rosenblatt YR 1992 UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/5/6/623.abstract AB Background: Many physicians believe Medicaid patients are more likely than non-Medicaid patients to file malpractice claims. This study examines the accuracy of this belief in regard to obstetric malpractice claims. Methods: Claims filed between January 1982 and June 1988 from the major malpractice insurer in Washington State were used to compare obstetric malpractice claims filed on behalf of Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients. Results: Eleven percent (7/62) of all closed obstetric claims were filed by Medicaid patients, whereas 19 percent of all births in Washington State were to Medicaid patients between 1982 and 1988. Failure to diagnose or treat a fetal condition was the most commonly alleged negligence in both Medicaid and non-Medicaid groups. Most claims in both groups were settled before the cases went to court; a substantial minority of claims were dropped. The mean cost of Medicaid claims ($406,984) was three times that of non-Medicaid claims ($133,743), suggesting that paid Medicaid claims were more severe than paid non-Medicaid claims. Conclusions: Medicaid patients appear no more likely to file obstetric malpractice claims than non-Madicaid patients. The low likelihood of filing claims, coupled with large settlements, suggests that Medicaid patients may have less access to legal services than non-Medicaid patients.