According to the report, medical malpractice insurance is now a money-maker for insurers and rates are coming down.

The report attributes the improvement to rate increases approved over the last four years and passage of legislation that created the policyholder owned West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company.

The report also credits legislation that made it harder to sue doctors for malpractice.

An analysis of West Virginia Board of Medicine data shows the effect:

• Since 2001, the number of paid claims has dropped by nearly 50 percent.

• Roughly 31percent of claims filed are dismissed.

• Less than 10 percent of claims filed actually go to court.

• Only 30 percent of claims adjudicated receive a non-zero judgment.

• 60 percent of Malpractice claims are settled outside of court.

• There does not appear to be a pattern of escalating jury awards