California — NPDB Malpractice Payments
HRSA National Practitioner Data Bank · 1990–2004
RECORDED verbatim from HRSA NPDB PUF · Historical data only · CC0
NPDB aggregate data — California
All fields RECORDED verbatim from the HRSA NPDB Public Use File. Historical data covering 1990–2004 only.
| Field | Value | Warrant |
|---|---|---|
| State | California | RECORDED |
| State abbreviation | CA | RECORDED |
| Earliest year | 1990 | RECORDED |
| Latest year | 2004 | RECORDED |
| Malpractice report count | 29,183 | RECORDED |
| Payment report count | 29,182 | RECORDED |
| Total payments (USD) | $2,944,761,100 | RECORDED |
| Mean payment (USD) | $100,910 | RECORDED |
Frequently asked questions
- How many malpractice payment reports were filed in California?
- The HRSA NPDB Public Use File records 29,183 malpractice payment reports for practitioners in California between 1990 and 2004. Each report represents a payment made on behalf of a licensed practitioner.
- What is the total amount paid in malpractice claims in California?
- The NPDB PUF records $2,944,761,100 in total malpractice payments across 29,182 payment reports for California over the 1990–2004 period. Amounts are in nominal (not inflation-adjusted) dollars.
- What is the average malpractice payment in California?
- The arithmetic mean malpractice payment in California is approximately $100,910. Note that distribution is highly skewed — a small number of very large payments drive the mean significantly above the median.
- Is this current malpractice data?
- No. The HRSA NPDB Public Use File (PUF) covers the period 1990–2004 only. HRSA discontinued public release of this file. These are historical aggregates and do NOT reflect current malpractice rates, current insurance premiums, or current practitioner risk.
- What does the NPDB report, exactly?
- The National Practitioner Data Bank collects reports of malpractice payments and certain adverse actions against licensed practitioners. The Public Use File contains de-identified aggregate statistics. One incident may produce multiple reports. The NPDB does not identify individual practitioners or patients.
- Can I use this to compare states for malpractice risk?
- With caution. Raw payment totals reflect state population size, number of licensed practitioners, and years of data coverage — not per-practitioner risk. For actuarial or legal purposes, consult current NPDB query resources or licensed actuaries.
Historical data — important context
The HRSA National Practitioner Data Bank Public Use File (PUF) is a discontinued historical dataset covering malpractice payment reports through approximately 2004. It does NOT reflect current malpractice rates, current insurance pricing, or current practitioner activity. One incident may generate multiple reports; counts are payments, not court verdicts or settlements alone. Do not use this data for actuarial pricing, individual practitioner evaluation, or legal claims.
Source: HRSA NPDB Public Use File . All figures RECORDED verbatim. CC0.