New Bills Would End “Surprise Billing” In Georgia

Urgent cares and hospitals are busy this time of the year. Between the flu, colds, and rare cases of pneumonia, people across the country tend to catch more infections during the winter months than any other time of the year. Unfortunately, this means an increased number of patients experiencing a situation known as “surprise billing.” This is when “a patient goes to a hospital that is covered by her insurance but ends up receiving a bill for out-of-network services.” Not only is this unfair to patients, but it can have lasting impacts on their finances. Fortunately, legislators in Georgia are preparing new bills designed to put an end to surprise billing. That comes as a relief for many, especially for Dan Harrison, a recent victim of surprise billing.


Do Apology Laws Reduce Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?

Apology laws. We’ve all seen them in action on the various doctor shows out there, or maybe you’ve experienced them in person. They’re laws that allow “physicians to express sympathy to patients and families without it being used against them.” One of the reasons why they were implemented in the first place was to reduce the number of medical malpractice suits being filed. However, a new study conducted by a team from Vanderbilt University has revealed that apology laws do not reduce “the number of medical malpractice suits filed, or the amounts paid out.” In fact, the opposite has occurred. Enacted in 32 states across the country, the apology laws, or “I’m sorry” laws have actually “increased the number of suits against non-surgeons.”


Toxic Spills: The Cost is Much Too High

As drillers (and veterans) reconverge at Standing Rock to build (and protest) the Dakota Access pipeline, toxic spills (and their costs) once again inspire public outcry. Native people rightfully worry about the integrity of their land and water. After all, on January 30th, another Enbridge pipeline burst in Texas (for the second time since it opened in 2016). This one spewed 600,000 gallons of crude; what will a similar spill do to the Missouri river? Pipelines fail, and it’s not a matter of if but when. Leaky pipelines, train derailments, and other accidents endanger all of our water on a regular basis.







Jury Rules In Favor Of Ohio Couple In Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

For many, the birth of a child is a joyous occasion filled with excitement. Sure, the thought of something going wrong is often in the back of expectant parent’s minds, but they’re easily shoved aside at the prospect of holding their new little bundle of joy. However, sometimes things do go wrong in the labor and delivery process, and while sometimes it’s just bad luck, other times the doctor or hospital makes a bad call, with devastating consequences for new parents. This was the case for one Ohio couple, Nicole Welker and Justin Brinkley, who gave birth to their child back in 2012 at Clearfield Hospital.