33-23-501. Purpose. The legislature finds that if a crisis exists because of the potential unavailability of medical malpractice insurance caused by carrier withdrawals from the Montana market, carrier insolvency, underwriting practices of existing carriers, high cost, and other reasons not attributable to neglect, oversight, or willfulness of a prospective policyholder, alternative programs should be employed to help ensure that medical malpractice insurance remains available to Montana health care providers and health care facilities. The purpose of this part is to provide a solution to the unavailability of medical malpractice insurance. Although this part will not resolve the underlying causes of unavailability and high cost, which extend beyond the insurance mechanism, it is anticipated that future legislation will deal on a more permanent basis with the root causes of the current crisis.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 475, L. 2005.