Physicians Insurance A Mutual Names Dr. David Carlson President and CEO

October 19, 2025 by matray

Physicians Insurance A Mutual announced that David Carlson, DO, will assume the role of president and chief executive officer effective Nov. 1, 2025. Dr. Carlson will succeed William Cotter, who is retiring from the organization after a distinguished 35-year career that includes six years of exemplary leadership at Physicians Insurance.

Carlson is a physician executive with 25 years of experience in C-suite positions. He previously served as chief physician officer at MultiCare Health System in Washington state, Hospital Sisters Health System in Illinois and Conemaugh Health System in Pennsylvania. He currently serves as chief medical officer and vice president of medical operations for King County at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Washington state.

Carlson has served on the Physicians Insurance Board of Directors since 2018 and as board chair from 2019 to 2023. In these roles, he has overseen performance, operations, regulatory compliance, governance, executive compensation and investment strategies.

“As Physicians Insurance enters its 45th year, it's fitting that a company founded by physicians will be led by one,” said Shane Macaulay, MD, Physicians Insurance chairman of the board. “Dr. Carlson is deeply familiar with both the clinical and business challenges our members face and is a passionate advocate of our mission to protect, defend and support our members. I'm excited to work with him as PI moves into its next chapter. I also want to extend my gratitude to Bill for his tremendous leadership and his service to our members during his successful tenure.”

William Cotter has served as Physicians Insurance’s president and chief executive officer since 2019. During this time, he led the organization through

Dr. David Carlson

several significant advances, including strengthening underwriting acumen and flexibility, expanding the company’s national reach and integrating the Physicians Insurance RRG into the Physicians Insurance family.

“It has been my privilege to be of service to our members and to lead a team of individuals so wholly dedicated to the protection and success of our members,” Cotter said. “Dr. Carlson has long embodied our commitment to good medicine and strong advocacy for physicians and healthcare organizations. His leadership will be a powerful asset for PI.”

“In his board roles, Dr. Carlson has been closely involved in the creation of our multi-year strategic plan that fortifies our financial strength and keeps our members' best interests at the center of every decision,” said Christina Galicia, Physicians Insurance chief operating officer. “On behalf of the executive management group, I'm delighted to welcome him to his new role.”

“Physicians Insurance proudly supports its Members by doing the right thing—devoting exceptional resources to their defense at trial and paying their claims when needed," Carlson said. “I'm honored to have been selected to continue leading this decades-long mission of protecting, defending and supporting PI's Members, so that they can continue taking care of their patients."

Carlson is a board-certified family practice physician with a subspecialty in geriatrics. He holds a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, a medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a master's degree in business administration from Alvernia University.

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AM Best Reaffirms BETA Healthcare Group ‘A’ (Excellent) Rating

October 15, 2025 by matray

AM Best reaffirmed BETA Healthcare Group's “A” (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating with a stable outlook, citing the company’s balance sheetstrength, which it categorizes as “Strongest.”

According to AM Best, the rating reflects several key factors, including:

  • Strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR)

  • Prudent loss reserving practices, resulting in consistent favorable development of prior accident-year reserves
  • Sound liquidity and conservative investment strategy, supported by a portfolio primarily composed of high-quality fixed-income securities

  • Sustained profitability over the past five years

  • BETA’s position as a leading provider of hospital professional liability coverage and the second-largest medical professional liability (MPL) insurer in California, based on 2024 direct premiums written (DPW), as well as its unique joint powers structure, which supports broader coverage and responsive pricing

“Our financial strength and broad footprint on the West Coast allow us to provide high-quality services to our geographically diverse customers,” said Corey Grove, CEO of BETA Healthcare Group. “BETA’s exclusive focus on healthcare and commitment to patient and employee safety make us a distinctive partner in the industry. We are agile and leverage our deep expertise to deliver innovative, leading-edge risk management solutions that help healthcare organizations achieve quality care, positive patient outcomes, and safe workplace environments.”

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Brian K. Atchinson Concludes Tenure at the MPL Association 

October 14, 2025 by matray

The Medical Professional Liability Association is honored to recognize the significant contributions of former President and CEO Brian K. Atchinson as he has concluded his tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer earlier this year.  

Atchinson joined the MPL Association in 2011, serving with distinction during his time as president and chief executive officer and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to advancing both the medical professional liability insurance industry and the MPL Association. 

Under Atchinson’s guidance, the MPL Association achieved many milestones including expanding its traditional membership to include a broader spectrum of MPL insurance organizations, creating programs tailored to the unique needs of various member segments, and fostering stakeholder collaboration to strengthen the MPL Association’s role as a premier industry representative. He also navigated the MPL Association through the global pandemic with resilience, working to maintain financial stability and continuing to deliver value to its members. 

“Throughout his service, Brian demonstrated professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication to the MPL Association and its members,” said Michael Conerly, MD, chair of the MPL Association and president/chief executive officer at LAMMICO. “His ability to work closely with the Association’s governance, members, and partners played an instrumental role in driving the Association forward. He cultivated strong relationships and focused on the priority issues for both the membership and the broader MPL community. 

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to recognize and thank Brian for his outstanding service over 14 years and for the positive impact of his contributions. We are grateful forBrian’s efforts and wish him all the best for the future.” 

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MPL Association and TruthMD Announce Strategic Data Initiative Agreement

October 14, 2025 by matray

The Medical Professional Liability Association and TruthMD, a healthcare data analytics company, announced a strategic agreement to launch the MPL Association & TruthMD Data Initiative (TDI). The affinity program will expand access to high-quality, technology-driven healthcare provider data and analytics across the MPL Association’s member base. 

According to the MPL Association, TDI will offer its members new opportunities to strengthen operations, including underwriting, actuarial, marketing, credentialing capabilities and other areas. 

“This affinity program underscores the MPL Association’s commitment to providing our members with access to best-in-class tools and resources to better serve healthcare professionals,” said Eric Anderson, Interim President and CEO of the MPL Association. “We are excited to collaborate with TruthMD, whose data solutions are well recognized for accuracy and reliability in the healthcare industry.” 

“Our mission has always been to deliver actionable, verified provider data that improves decision-making and outcomes,” said TruthMD president Debbie Vereb. “Partnering with the MPL Association allows us to extend these benefits to a vital segment of the healthcare ecosystem while supporting the Association’s important work on behalf of its members and the broader MPL community.” 

The MPL Association and TruthMD affinity program is effective immediately and will be highlighted in upcoming MPL Association member communications. 

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AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for The Doctors Company and Subsidiaries

October 3, 2025 by matray

AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed The Doctors Company's financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a+". The positive outlooks, FSR of A, and long-term ICR of "a+" have been affirmed for The Doctors Company, an Interinsurance Exchange, and its core subsidiaries, which collectively comprise The Doctors Company Insurance Group (TDC or TDC Group).

See below for a list of the companies:

  • The Doctors Company, an Interinsurance Exchange

  • TDC National Assurance Company

  • TDC Specialty Insurance Company

  • TDC Special Risks Insurance Company

  • The Doctors Company Risk Retention Group, a Reciprocal Exchange

  • Hospitals Insurance Company, Inc.

The FSR of A is assigned only to select companies with excellent ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations. The "a+" ICR is assigned to entities that have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing senior financial obligations.

"The positive outlooks and the ratings from AM Best reflect the strength and stability of our companies," said Marco Vanderlaan, chief financial officer, The Doctors Company and TDC Group. "Our financial strength allows us to help healthcare professionals meet the challenges of a constantly shifting landscape and better serve our members and insureds."

The pending acquisition of ProAssurance Corp. is expected to further solidify The Doctors Company's strong market position. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of regulatory approvals. AM Best notes that TDC Group has a favorable track record of successfully acquiring and integrating prior acquisitions.

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CAP Promotes Daniel Cavanaugh to Senior Vice President of Business Development Amid Record Membership Growth

October 1, 2025 by matray

The Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) announced the promotion of Daniel Cavanaugh to Senior Vice President of Business Development, recognizing his exceptional leadership during a period of unprecedented membership growth.

Since stepping into his role as Vice President of Membership Development in 2018, Cavanaugh has helped the organization surpass 13,000 physician members, the highest in its 50-year history. As Senior Vice President, he will lead a newly unified business unit that brings together Membership Development, Membership Programs and Marketing and Corporate Communications, aligning CAP’s core growth and engagement functions under one strategic umbrella.

“Dan’s contributions have been central to CAP’s growth,” said CAP CEO Sarah Scher. “His ability to connect with physicians and healthcare organizations, guide strategic initiatives, and foster collaboration has strengthened our sales efforts and extended our reach. As Vice President, he helped drive significant membership increases. And in his new role, he’ll continue to move our business development efforts forward with focus and innovation.”

“It’s an honor to take on an expanded role during this significant period of growth for CAP,” said Mr. Cavanaugh. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in broadening our impact and deepening our support for physicians across California. I look forward to building on our success to deliver even greater value to our members.”  

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AM Best Affirms MIEC “A-” Excellent Rating for 21st Consecutive Year

September 24, 2025 by matray

AM Best has affirmed MIEC’s financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent), in the Financial Size Category of VII, with a stable outlook for the 21st consecutive year. Best’s independent rating includes comparisons to industry peers and standards, as well as examinations of business plans, operational philosophy and management. The “A-” (Excellent) rating reflects AM Best’s assessment of MIEC’s balance sheet, operating performance and outlook.

According to MIEC, its balance sheet strength, noted as strongest by AM Best, supports its ability to better serve members and support our insurance and financial obligations.

“MIEC has been protecting physicians and other healthcare professionals for now more than 50 years,” said Lamont Paxton, MD, MIEC Board of Governors chairman. “During that time, the practice of medicine has evolved considerably, and MIEC has consistently adapted to meet the changing needs of our membership. However, our founding philosophy of placing physicians ahead of profits has remained steadfast. That philosophy combined with strong financial management has allowed us to provide the best protection and risk management services to our members for the last five decades, as evidenced by our most recent AM Best affirmation.”

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Burns White Launches Correctional Healthcare & Liability Practice Group

September 24, 2025 by matray

Burns White announced today the formation of its Correctional Healthcare & Liability Practice Group, a team dedicated to defending correctional facilities and healthcare providers against the unique legal challenges at the intersection of healthcare, constitutional law and liability.

Correctional facilities across the country face constant exposure to litigation, regulatory scrutiny and operational risks. Co-chairs William J. D'Annunzio and Matthew H. Frey will lead the practice group at Burns White. This group of attorneys will help public and private institutions reduce liability, protect their interests and provide constitutionally sound care while navigating a highly complex legal landscape.

“Our attorneys have extensive experience defending facilities and practitioners in high-stakes litigation,” said Stuart T. O’Neal, Burns White chief executive officer. “We understand the sensitive and demanding nature of correctional healthcare and are committed to protecting those who serve within this environment.”

D’Annunzio is Of Counsel at Burns White, focusing his practice on Healthcare and Long-Term Care law, defending doctors, hospitals, and long-term care health facilities in medical malpractice and liability matters. He has represented clients in the areas of insurance defense, product liability, negligence, wrongful death and survival actions, commercial litigation, consumer law, and compliance.

Fry is a Member in the firm’s Philadelphia office, focusing his practice in the areas of Civil Rights, Healthcare, Correctional Healthcare and Long-Term care law. He defends correctional facilities, doctors, hospitals, and long-term care health facilities in medical malpractice, civil rights, and liability matters.

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AM Best Reaffirms A (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating for Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona

September 11, 2025 by matray

Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA) announced today that AM Best has affirmed the company's Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a+ (Excellent). The outlook for both ratings is stable. MICA Risk Retention Group Inc. also received a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a+ (Excellent), both with a stable outlook.

“AM Best’s affirmation of MICA’s A (Excellent) rating is a testament to our unwavering commitment to operational effectiveness and the trust we have built with our member-policyholders,” said Edward G. Marley, president and CEO of MICA. “MICA has remained exclusively dedicated to medical professional liability protection for nearly five decades as a physician-founded, member-owned company grounded in financial strength and stability. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026, this recognition underscores our enduring promise to protect, support, and defend the practice of medicine for generations of physicians.”

The Best’s Credit Report recognizes MICA's strong financial position and a consistent record of policyholder dividends, along with operating results that exceed industry benchmarks. The rating also acknowledges MICA's position as Arizona's leading medical malpractice insurer and the second largest physician writer in Utah, with strong policyholder retention.

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AM Best Reaffirms A (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating for Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona

September 11, 2025 by matray

Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA) announced that AM Best has affirmed the company's Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a+ (Excellent). The outlook for both ratings is stable. MICA Risk Retention Group Inc. also received a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a+ (Excellent), both with a stable outlook.

“AM Best’s affirmation of MICA’s A (Excellent) rating is a testament to our unwavering commitment to operational effectiveness and the trust we have built with our member-policyholders,” said Edward G. Marley, president and CEO of MICA. “MICA has remained exclusively dedicated to medical professional liability protection for nearly five decades as a physician-founded, member-owned company grounded in financial strength and stability. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2026, this recognition underscores our enduring promise to protect, support, and defend the practice of medicine for generations of physicians.” The Best’s Credit Report recognizes MICA's strong financial position and a consistent record of policyholder dividends, along with operating results that exceed industry benchmarks. The rating also acknowledges MICA's position as Arizona's leading medical malpractice insurer and the second largest physician writer in Utah, with strong policyholder retention.

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