side note: This is another case illustrating the consolidation of the medical malpractice insurance industry. Other recent acquisitions include The Doctors Company acquiring APCapital and NORCAL acquiring Medicus Insurance. The question yet to be answered is what effect these acquisitions will have on the medical professional liability insurance industry. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway’s […]

The James Madison Institute just released an interesting study entitled, Alternative Solutions to Florida’s Medical Malpractice System. The report begins by outlining nothing new: a flawed Florida tort system, physician liability insurance cases that take years to resolve, and awards that are dramatically inconsistent. It describes a system that discourages the reporting of errors and, […]

side note: Physicians in Wyoming pay moderate medical malpractice insurance rates. They may not be as affordable as the medical malpractice insurance rates in neighboring Idaho, but Wyoming has never had to worry about winding up on the American Tort Reform Association’s Annual Judicial Hellholes List. Unfortunately, after the recent case discussed in the below […]

Several states this year explored the possibility of placing damage caps on med mal damages, including Florida, Oregon and Virginia. A recent article in Claims Journal asked, “Can Damage Caps Limit Medical Malpractice Exposure?” The article reviews several sources of information that point to such a limit when damage caps are in place. The article […]

We all know that med mal lawsuits have a huge impact on physicians. They can be extremely expensive, both in terms of cost for litigation and payouts and also because they frequently result in higher liability insurance costs. They also cost a lot in terms of a physician’s time. But, a more difficult cost to […]

A press release distributed by the plaintiff’s attorneys Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC, just crossed my desk. In it, the plaintiff’s attorneys are advertising a new law in the state of Virginia that expands medical liability in cases where there is the wrongful death of a fetus. The press release concludes with: “Now, expectant […]

Patients for Fair Compensation recently conducted a poll of 330 Georgia physicians on whether they would support the creation of a new Patient Compensation System in cases of medical malpractice. According to the survey, 96 percent of Georgia doctors polled agreed a new system would reduce healthcare costs, and 95 percent said they would support […]

TDC is set to announce a merger between them and the Utah Medical Insurance Association. The biggest insurers in the nation have been buying up regional companies at an increased rate. This will increase the amount of physicians that TDC insurers up to 76,000. A more in-depth story to come.

Note: The article below first appeared in the June 2013 issue of the Medical Liability Monitor, a monthly newsletter reporting on the medical professional liability insurance and risk management industries. For subscription info, please visit www.medicalliabilitymonitor.com. In a rapidly evolving marketplace, it’s critical for a company to know what it stands for and what drives […]