Professional liability and obstetrical health care delivery

Area of Science:

• Medical Economics
• Public Health
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Nurse-midwives face significant challenges in obtaining liability insurance.
• The cost and availability of malpractice insurance are critical factors affecting healthcare provider accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of liability insurance availability and cost on nurse-midwifery practice.
• To understand the consequences for maternal healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of insurance market trends for nurse-midwives.
• Assessment of litigation rates for nurse-midwives compared to obstetricians.
• Evaluation of the effect on service provision in rural and underserved areas.

Main Results:

• Nurse-midwives report prohibitive insurance costs or unavailability.
• Litigation rates for nurse-midwives are significantly lower than for obstetricians.
• Maternal health services provided by nurse-midwives are diminishing, especially for rural and low-income women.

Conclusions:

• The current liability insurance landscape poses a threat to the sustainability of nurse-midwifery services.
• Reduced access to nurse-midwives disproportionately affects maternal health outcomes for marginalized communities.
• Policy interventions may be necessary to ensure the availability of affordable liability insurance for nurse-midwives.