As the business of healthcare grows increasingly complex and diverse the number of doctors pursuing dual MD/MBA degree programs are on the rise. CoverMD Senior Contributing Editor Dr. Liz Kwo, herself a holder of a dual MD/MBA examines the advantages to a doctor of earning an MBA. Read full article

There are many important points to take into consideration when it comes to securing medical malpractice insurance for your med spa. Whether you are starting a new med spa or are looking to change your current coverage options it’s important to carefully review the policy to ensure it meets your liability needs.

Who is covered under the med spa liability policy and who is not? Who is the Named Insured on the policy? Are there endorsements restricting coverage … such as an Injectable Limitations Endorsement which determines who can break the skin? Being aware of the medical malpractice insurance coverage options you have for your med spa can help prevent problems down the line.

For more information on Medical Spa insurance – click here

Medical Protection Company (MedPro) will lower their rates by 11.9% on June 1 2012 and NCMIC Insurance Company will lower its rates by 7.25% effective July 1. The rate decreases come on foot of action by Dave Jones the California Insurance Commissioner.

In 2011 the top six medical malpractice insurance companies in California were required by Commissioner Jones to submit rate filings to the Department of Insurance to justify their current rates. Based on a review of the submitted filings the rates were deemed excessive and rate reductions were requested.

Three other medical malpractice insurance companies NORCAL Mutual, The Dentists Insurance Company and The Medical Insurance Exchange of California’s physicians and surgeons program have also seen rate reductions recently.

The rates for the state’s largest malpractice insurer, The Doctor’s Company are currently under review.

All in all these rate reductions continue to spell good news for doctors practicing medicine throughout California.

Congenital hypothyroidism is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation in the world. In this article, CoverMD’s Senior Contributing Editor Dr. Riva Kamat examines cases of untreated congenital hypothyroidism and highlights some important take home points for Clinical Practitioners. Failure to treat congenital hypothyroidism constitutes medical negligence.

Malpractice Risks – Preventing Mental Retardation: A Look at Cases of Untreated Congenital Hypothyroidism

CoverMD™ announced today the appointment of Dr. Riva Kamat as a Senior Contributing Editor.

Dr. Riva Kamat is a board certified pediatrician who practices pediatric hospital medicine. She is a pediatric inpatient hospitalist at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children in Falls Church, Virginia. In addition, she consults and advises law firms on medical malpractice cases involving pediatric and adolescent medicine. A long standing member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, she is the past president of the Northern Virginia Pediatric Society. Working in inner city clinics in Pittsburgh and as an outpatient pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente has given her a wide range of clinical pediatrics.

Dr. Kamat is an Assistant Professor at the Georgetown School of Medicine and Clinical Instructor for the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She enjoys teaching medical students and residents using medical photography.

“We are delighted to have Riva on board with us,” said Len Mosco, CoverMD’s Executive Marketing Director. “Her experience as a pediatrician and her consultancy work with law firms on medical malpractice cases will help ensure that her writings will be informative and interesting to doctors across the country.”

CoverMD.com is pleased to announce an expansion to its line of medical malpractice insurance offerings. We now offer free quotes on hospital malpractice insurance to hospitals and healthcare facilities on a national basis.

As with so many industries the internet has changed the way hospitals source their malpractice insurance. When it comes to hospital malpractice insurance there is no longer a need for hospitals to maintain the status quo with their current carrier or broker. Our streamlined process allows the facility to immediately connect with an experienced hospital malpractice insurance professional who can review the current liability coverage and help determine if there are better options are available that could result in significant savings and improved services for the hospital.

With our streamlined process hospitals nationwide can now avail of free quotes and no-obligation reviews of their current hospital professional liability coverage from an experienced hospital liability insurance consultant.

Hospital malpractice insurance – click here to get started – it’s quick and easy to do.

Some good news for physicians and hospitals in Missouri with the release of the 2010 Medical Malpractice Insurance Report from the state’s Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. With claims continuing to decrease Missouri is consolidating its position as an attractive location for doctors to practice medicine.

Some of the report highlights include:

• Since 2007 the number of paid claims has declined in each subsequent year. Further reducing claims costs, the average award per paid claim decreased from $232,304 to $200,765 between 2009 and 2010.
• Newly-opened claims declined substantially in the years since 2005.
• The number of pending claims, or the number of claims still open at the end of a year, has declined substantially since 2005, and in 2010 reached the lowest level since 1993.

The benefit to doctors in Missouri is that medical malpractice insurance rates have never been more competitive which means lower costs for physicians. Now is a great time for Missouri physicians to get a free no-obligation cost comparison with their current malpractice insurance.

Join the thousands of Missouri doctors who have already used CoverMD to obtain free quotes and money saving rates on medical malpractice insurance.

Click here for your free Missouri medical malpractice insurance quote. It’s quick, easy to do and you could be saving money on your premium before the end of the 2011!

CoverMD’s Senior Contributing Editor Liz Kwo, MD MBA explores ten things that doctors can do to help lessen their exposure to medical malpractice lawsuits. Reduced exposure means lower medical malpractice insurance costs for physicians.

Read full article here

By Carol Power, CoverMD Senior Contributing Writer

Insurers in Tennessee will payout fewer damages in medical malpractice cases after a new cap on damages took effect this month (Oct. 2011).  Tennessee was only one of two
states in the 12-state Southeast region without caps on punitive damages. The
amended “Tennessee Civil Justice Act of 2011,” is a centerpiece of Governor
Bill Haslam’s agenda to crackdown on civil lawsuits.

The new law clarifies and defines the venue where a business can be sued;

• Places a $750,000 cap on non-economic damages incurred by an
  injured plaintiff, except if the defendant intended to injure the plaintiff, was under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs and his or her judgment was substantially impaired, or intentionally falsified, destroyed or concealed records to avoid liability.
• Raises the cap to $1 million if the plaintiff becomes a paraplegic or quadriplegic because of a spinal cord injury, sustains third degree burns over 40% or more of his or her body or face, has an amputation of a hand or foot, or wrongfully dies leaving one or more minor children.
• Places a cap on punitive damages in medical malpractice and personal injury cases, which must be proved by clear and convincing evidence, and are capped at two times the compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater.

The law changes the statutory term “medical malpractice” to “health care liability”. The potential defendants covered by a health care liability action are described as “health care
providers” under the Bill. The Bill clarifies that “health care practitioner” includes not only physicians and hospitals, but also nursing homes and other assisted living facilities, mental health centers, pharmacists and employees of those entities.

“What a HORRIBLE experience! The doctor was rude and arrogant and his staff were
just as bad”.  What’s worse, imagine that this allegation was totally false and was posted anonymously online by a disgruntled patient. In our wired world this is now the reality of how prospective patients may have their first introduction to you and your practice.

In this article CoverMD’s Senior Contributing Editor Dr. Liz Kwo takes an in-depth look at physician rating websites and the impact they can have on a physician’s online reputation – both good and bad.

An interesting question posed in the article is will your online reputation as a physician ever factor into what you pay for medical malpractice insurance?

Read more about Physician Rating Websites and a doctor’s online reputation

CoverMD Senior Contributing Editor Marc Lanzkowsky, Esq. looks at a recent study published in the The New England Journal of Medicine that examined the malpractice risk faced by doctors as it related to their specialty. There are some interesting findings in the report.

Which medical specialty leads all others by a dramatic amount in loss payments? It may not be what you think.

Find out by reading Marc’s article on:
Medical Malpractice Claims Study By Physician Specialty

Florida’s medical malpractice insurance market is in excellent health and growing stronger according to the latest report issued by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). The stable and healthy conditions for medical malpractice insurance in the Sunshine State are being reflected in decreased rates paid by Florida physicians for liability coverage.

Read more about the report and the implications for Florida medical malpractice insurance

Medical Protective (MedPro), a Berkshire Hathaway company, has agreed to acquire 100% of New Jersey based Princeton Insurance from Medical Liability Mutual Insurance company (MLMIC). Terms of the all-cash transaction were not disclosed and the deal is expected to close before the end of 2011.

What will this mean for the medical malpractice insurance landscape for doctors in New Jersey?

Read more on this latest acquisition in the medical malpractice insurance industry

Physician Apology Laws allow a doctor to apologize to a patient for an adverse effect without the apology being used in a malpractice lawsuit. CoverMD Staff writer Tamara Knezevic takes an in-depth look at these state specific “I’m sorry” laws.

Find out why it pays to be “nice”.

Read full article: Physician Apology Laws – How saying  “I’m Sorry” can help a doctor

CoverMD’s Senior Contributing Editor Marc Lanzkowsky, JD examines some important considerations a doctor should take into account on the day of testimony in a medical malpractice trial.

“It probably seems like years since the first day you were served in the case. Discovery has been completed, depositions taken, experts consulted and trial preparation completed. The day has come for you to get on the stand and testify on your own behalf. You have fully prepared by reviewing your transcript, discussing the game plan with counsel and practicing your testimony. It’s time to raise your right hand and swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And if you do that, all will be right with the world. Well not so fast …. ”

Marc reveals some steps a doctor should consider during trial to put him and his testimony in the best light. Find out the simple mistake a doctor in rural Arkansas did during his malpractice trial that ended up being a factor in why he lost the case.

Read full article: Considerations for the day of trial in a medical malpractice lawsuit