2009 Iowa Code
Title 13 - Commerce
Subtitle 1 - Insurance and Related Regulation
CHAPTER 519A - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE
519A.1 - INTENT.

        519A.1  INTENT.
         The general assembly finds that a critical situation exists
      because of the high cost and impending unavailability of medical
      malpractice insurance.  The purposes of sections 519A.2 to 519A.13
      are to assure that the public is adequately protected against losses
      arising out of medical malpractice by providing licensed health care
      providers with medical malpractice insurance through the requirement
      that certain liability insurance carriers write medical malpractice
      insurance for a period of two years upon a finding of an emergency by
      the commissioner of insurance that either such insurance is not
      available through normal channels or that it is not available on a
      reasonable basis because of lack of competition for such insurance,
      or otherwise; to establish an association to equitably spread the
      risks for such insurance; and to provide for recoupment of losses
      resulting from the operation of the association through a
      stabilization reserve fund contributed to by insureds, a surcharge on
      future liability insurance policies, or a favorable premium tax
      treatment.
         It is the intent of this chapter to provide only an interim
      solution to the impending unavailability of medical malpractice
      insurance. It is not anticipated that this chapter will resolve the
      underlying causes of the unavailability and high cost which extend
      beyond the insurance mechanism.  It is anticipated that future
      legislation will be required to deal on a more permanent basis with
      the underlying causes of the current situation.  

         [C77, 79, 81, § 519A.1]