AUSTIN - A medical liability insurer has filed to reduce its rates for physicians by 10 percent starting April 1, the Texas Department of Insurance said Tuesday.

The department applauded the filing by the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association, which is commonly referred to as the Joint Underwriting Association. The nonprofit association provides insurance for doctors who can’t get it int he normal commercial market.

The rate reductions represents more than $6 million in savings for the more than 2,500 physicians covered by the JUA, the insurance department said.

The insurance department said total enrollment in JUA declined significantly last year as the medical liability market stabilized nd more doctors found insurance in the voluntary market.

“This rate reduciton is further evidence that the medical malpractice reforms of 2003 are working,” Insurance Commissioner Jose Montemayor said. “JUA now
joins the host of insurers that are part of this turnaround in the last year and half, either through reducing rates or re-entering the medical liability
market.”

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http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/