Oklahoma hospitals consider creating own insurance

(Altus-AP) -- Nine Oklahoma hospitals are looking into creating their own medical malpractice insurance company. <br/><br/>Bill Graves of Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus says the group hopes

Thursday, May 20th 2004, 10:06 am

By: News On 6

(Altus-AP) -- Nine Oklahoma hospitals are looking into creating their own medical malpractice insurance company.

Bill Graves of Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus says the group hopes to have the self-insurance program in place by July.

Graves says the rising cost of malpractice insurance is one reason for considering self-insurance. He says another reason is it would give the hospitals more control over whether to settle a malpractice claim or take the issue to court.

The nine hospitals showing interest are Regional Health Center in McAlester; Duncan Regional Hospital; Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton; and Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Also, Jackson County Memorial in Altus; Memorial Hospital of Texas County in Guymon; Stillwater Medical Center; Unity Health Center in Shawnee; and Muskogee Regional Medical Center.