Norcal Mutual Insurance Company recently stressed its position of early claim reporting by its medical malpractice insureds. “NORCAL Mutual continually stresses that there is no penalty for early reporting of incidents. Early reporting means we can put the insured at ease and confirm that the matter is covered. Equally important, it means we can help insureds avoid making the situation worse by, for example, making additions to the medical record or giving the record to the wrong party.”

From Norcal’s point of view early reporting of medical incidents by physicians and surgeons seems to make sense.  And certainly its important not to alter the medical record inappropriately or incorrectly (and ESPECIALLY if there is a possible claim brewing).  However, from a physicians or surgeons point of view, early reporting can have a negative impact on the claims history report.  Every incident reported to Norcal Mutual Insurance Company is reflected in the claim history of the reporting physician insured. And in our experience, many of these “early-reported” incidents end up going nowhere yet they leave a blemish on the claim history of the physician/s involved. This claim history report is traditionally provided to hospitals, managed care organizations, insurance companies, surgery centers, IPAs, etc.  Therefore, it’s important to protect the integrity of the claim report and keep it as squeaky clean as possible.  Considering 1) how often a physician has to provide and explain the claim report and 2)possibly being non-renewed by your medical malpractice carrier based on this report, it seems counterintuitive to encourage reporting of incidents beforethe real threat of ligitation ensues.  (see our  prior post series on being non-renewed for more details).  In addition, physicians and surgeons with above-average claim histories as reflected in the claim history report provided by their ucrrent and previous carriers, enjoy lower overall medical malpractice insurance premiums in that they can pick and choose from best rated, most competitive medical malpractice insurance companies. 

Norcal Mutual Insurance company is not alone in advocating early reporting of medical malpractice incidents (or allegations).  The Doctors Company and Medical Protective (other leading writers of medical malpractice insurance for physicians and surgeons) have virtually the same approach of encouraging early reporting of medical incidents.  Yet, all of these companies traditionally offer the lowest medical malpractice insurance price for physicians with exemplary claim histories.

As a client advocate, Presidio has a slightly different perspective.  Presidio Insurance advocates the use of common sense combined with conservative reporting.  The medical malpractice insurance experts at Presidio are  always available to discuss this issue or refer you to a qualified attorney who can discuss the pros and cons of early reporting of medical incidents.

 hCG, or human chorionic gonadotrophin is a glycoprotein hormone produced in pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hCG which allows the body to mobilize fat and use it as energy for both mother and fetus.

Performed within Alternative Medicine Practices, although the process appears harmless (and reportedly has has little to no side effects), within a medical weight loss regimen, medical malpractice insruance companies are ballking at covering the hCG procedure.  The traditional “admitted” market carriers (for example,  Norcal, Medical Protective and The Doctors Company) will generally exclude this procedure altogether when seen within the alternative medicine setting.  A separate policy is available to cover this exposure.  We recommend alternative healthcare facilties specifically disclose the procedure to their medical malpractice insurance company to make sure the procedure is covered under their policy.

Presidio Insurance has a Medispa & Alternative Healthcare Practices Program that extends coverage for the hCG procedure, as well as any other alternative procedures (i.e. aesthetics, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, etc.).

Visit our website wwww.PresidioInsurance.com or call us directly (800)317-6411 to speak with a Medispa/Alternative Healthcare Program Specialist.

Presidio is pleased to announce that starting June 2010, Med Pro is offering special discounts and benefits to Pediatricians across the country.  Membership in select pediatric organizations will earn a discount for all Med Pro pediatric and pediatric-surgical specialists insured with Medical Protective.  Proof of membership is required.

Features of the MedPro Pediatric Program include:

• A pediatric member premium discount on  Medical Protective medical malpractice insurance policy
• An additional pediatric member discount for insureds with 10 years of claim-free experience
• Occurrence and Claims-made coverage options
• Various credits including: group practice; new-to-practice; part-time; risk management
• Risk management tools and educational programs (eligible for 5% credit upon successful completion – good for 3 years)
• Best defense and claims handling
• Real “Consent-to-Settle”*
• Free tail coverage at any age with just 1 year of coverage at a mature rate

Presidio Insurance Solutions is an approved Medical Protective agent offering dental and medical malpractice insurance coverage.

Presidio Insurance is pleased to announce Medical Protective’s new collaboration with AANA Insurance Services, formed to address the ever-growing insurance needs of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthestists (“CRNAs”) and committed to providing the best insurance products available to CRNAs on a nationwide basis. The insurance professionals at Presidio are here to assist in the application process…visit our website at www.PresidioInsurance.com or call us directly at (800)317-6411 to get your Rate Indication today.

NOTICE TO CONSUMERS
Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California
(800) 633-2322
www.mbc.ca.gov

The purpose of this new requirement (Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 1355.4) is to inform consumers where to go for information or with a complaint about California medical doctors.

Physicians may provide this notice by one of three methods:

Prominently posting a sign in an area of their offices conspicuous to patients, in at least 48-point type in Arial font. (See link “Sign for printing”, below, to print the actual notice.)

Including the notice in a written statement, signed and dated by the patient or patient’s representative, and kept in that patient’s file, stating the patient understands the physician is licensed and regulated by the board.

Including the notice in a statement on letterhead, discharge instructions, or other document given to a patient or the patient’s representative, where the notice is placed immediately above the signature line for the patient in at least 14-point type. The notice may be printed in sign form from the link below this article.

CCR 1355.4 (the actual regulation)

Sign For Printing

Presidio is providing this information as a courtesy for our California medical malpractice insurance clients.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) – 5%

American College of Physicians (ACP) – 5%

American Association of Neurological Surgery (AANS) – 5%

American Association of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) -5%

California Society of Pathologists (CSP) – 5%

If you don’t belong to any of these specific societies, there are a few other medical malpractice insurance discounts that are available. Keep in mind these discounts are applied in addition to many other available discounts. Often we encourage our clients to join a medical society when the membership dues are affordable and the 5% discount amounts to far more than the cost of the membership.

For more information on The Doctors Company, feel free to contact Presidio Insurance Solutions at (800)317-6411 or visit our website at www.PresidioInsurance.com

The Doctors’ Company has announced an average rate decrease of 5.1% while Medical Protective has announced an overall premium decrease of 3%. These rate reductions are averages so individual physicians may see greater or lesser changes depending upon specialty, loss history and limits of liability. The Continental Casualty Company (CNA) has indicated that there will be no rate change this year.

Presidio Insurance Solutions provides Oregon physicians and surgeons a one-stop shopping experience. We find the lowest rates with the best coverage from all the top Oregon medical malpractice insurance companies.

Presidio Insurance is looking into finding a solution to this problem. We will keep you posted as our research develops!

For profit , or non-profit we will do all we can to find you quality, cost effective medical malpractice insurance coverage.

For additional information, contact Presidio Insurance Solutions at (800) 317-6411.

Presidio Insurance Solutions extends our deepest sympathies to the people affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Our prayers are with the survivors, aid workers, and all the families and friends coping with the aftermath of this catastrophe.

For any questions about coverage for volunteer services in Haiti, please contact us at (800)317-6411.