State, physicians receive millions back from malpractice premiums

State coffers and Maryland physicians will be getting back close to $100 million in medical malpractice insurance premiums under a consent order announced Thursday by Gov. Martin O?Malley and his insurance commissioner, Ralph Tyler.

Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society, which insures three-quarters of the doctors in the state, will return the funds that were part of subsidies set up by the legislature in 2005 to stabilize skyrocketing malpractice rates. The subsidies come from taxes on health maintenance and managed care organizations.