Opinion ID: 1864418
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: defendants' dilatory exceptions

Text: The Medical Malpractice Act provides no action against a QHCP or his insurer may be commenced in any court before the claimant's proposed complaint has been presented to a medical review panel. LSA-R.S. 40:1299.47(B)(1)(a)(i). Accordingly, when the Reeds and the Abates filed their actions without first having submitted their proposed complaints to medical review panels pursuant to Section 1299.47, defendants filed dilatory exceptions objecting to the prematurity of the suits pending against them. LSA-C.C.P. art. 926. After hearings on the exceptions, the trial courts maintained the exceptions and dismissed plaintiffs' suits in accordance with LSA-C. C.P. art. 933. The trial courts had interpreted Act 435 of 1984, as it amended Section 1299.42(E), as providing QHCPs with PCF coverage coextensive with the malpractice liability insurance policies filed with the commissioner. Consequently, as the QHCPs have claims-made policies with retroactive coverage encompassing the periods from which the plaintiffs' claims arise, the courts determined the defendant QHCPs' tortious acts or omissions were covered by the provisions of the Act. The trial courts erred, however, by maintaining the exceptions because Subsection E describes only the methods by which the health care provider may establish proof of financial responsibility. Subsection A(3) continues to govern when a health care provider's qualification under the Act becomes effective.