If the Rendell administration has its way, cigarette smokers and Uncle Sam will foot the bill to provide some financial relief for doctors' soaring medical malpractice insurance bills. The governor's Office of Health Care Reform is quietly working on a proposal to raise about $230 million by increasing cigarette taxes at least 10 cents and obtaining about $100 million in matching funds from Medicaid - in addition to previously passed legislation that provides $40 million per year from a state fund paid by speeding-ticket fines, according to sources familiar with the proposal.
Posted by Editor at November 6, 2003 10:39 AM