Curi Expands Litigation Education Efforts with New Physician Guide on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

December 17, 2025 by matray

Curi launched today the Curi Litigation Education initiative, with free articles, videos and downloads for healthcare professionals, plus an exclusive CME series for clients. Now, their years-long effort has culminated in a comprehensive new resource, A Physician’s Guide to Navigating a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit: What Every Clinician Needs to Know About Litigation.

“Roughly one in three physicians will be sued at some point in their career, yet many feel alone when faced with a lawsuit — like it’s only happening to them,” said Kristi Wright, Curi’s senior vice president of claims. “This is often an unparalleled stressor that can lead to burnout and career abandonment; research even shows that physicians who face a lawsuit are at an increased risk of suicide. Yet, they’re sometimes told not to talk about it and typically aren’t fully taught about litigation in medical school. We want to change that. We want our clients and physicians everywhere to have the information and preparation they need.”

The new guide offers 40 interactive pages where physicians can:

• Explore a broad overview of litigation fundamentals (key terms, important people, stages)
• Find out what happens in advance of trial, plus factors that influence the decision to settle or defend
• Get a walk-through of the courtroom play-by-play
• Discover strategies to help move through the stress a lawsuit or claim can cause
• And more ...

The guide also includes a foreword from Gita Pensa, MD, FAAEM, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Brown University, who is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on malpractice litigation stress and physician support. She is also the host of the popular podcast “Doctors and Litigation: The L Word” and was a defendant in a high-stakes malpractice case that spanned 12 years and two prolonged jury trials.

“The weight of it spilled over into every sphere of my life,” Pensa said. “But instead of succumbing, I made a vow to empower and educate myself and made it my mission to help other physicians chart a better path through this painful and very common experience. Curi shares my goal, which is why I’ve teamed up with them to share my experience.”

In addition to offering her tips in the new guide, Curi clients can also access an exclusive Litigation Education Program — a CME-eligible course — with Pensa, which takes a deeper dive into becoming an effective defendant and is designed to help physicians navigate litigation with skill and resilience.

MICA Promotes Susan Orris to Vice President of Underwriting; Appoints Katherine Woslager VP of Marketing and Corporate Communications

December 17, 2025 by matray

PointBridge MGA Partners With Aspen on New Admitted Medical Liability Program

December 16, 2025 by matray

PointBridge, a managing general underwriter specializing in professional liability insurance, announced the impending launch of a new admitted physicians medical liability program in partnership with Aspen, an AM Best A-rated global specialty insurer.

The program, which launches Jan. 1, 2026, is designed to meet growing demand for modern, competitively priced professional liability coverage for physicians and surgeons. The initial rollout will begin in select states, with expansion to 15 target states by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

“We’re excited to partner with Aspen to bring a fresh approach to physicians professional liability insurance,” said Philip Cabaud, chief executive officer of PointBridge. “This program combines the financial strength of a global carrier with AI-assisted underwriting technology to deliver faster turnaround times, more accurate risk assessment and competitive pricing for physicians and their practices.”

According to PointBridge, the admitted program offers several advantages, including Aspen’s AM Best A-rated financial strength, updated admitted policy forms designed for today’s medical practice environment and AI-assisted underwriting that supports faster and more precise risk evaluation alongside underwriter review. Technology-driven efficiencies are intended to support competitive premium structures.

Coverage will be available to licensed physicians and surgeons, as well as professional corporations and practice entities under which insured physicians operate. Initial launch states include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. PointBridge said it will distribute the program through appointed retail agents and brokers, providing underwriting expertise and streamlined service throughout the quoting and binding process.

Healthcare Services Group Names Monte Shields Director of Business Development

December 5, 2025 by matray

The Healthcare Services Group (HSG) family of companies announced today that it has created a new position and added Monte Shields as director of business development. In this newly created role, Shields will direct the expansion of the organization's market presence and strengthen awareness of HSG's products and services, specifically focusing on growing physician and hospital business.

With more 20 years in the medical professional liability (MPL) insurance industry, Shields has experience in sales, marketing, sales management, fundraising and relationship building. He plans to build new relationships and to rely on his current network in developing new business through broker partnerships and direct sales to medical practices.

"I am honored to be joining an outstanding and reputable company and a wonderful group of people. I have always enjoyed the relationships I have in the MPL marketplace and look forward to contributing to HSG's success going forward," Shields said.

Creating this new role and hiring Shields as director of business development fulfills a goal that is one part of the company's overall growth strategy, according to HSG chief executive officer Dana Frese.

"We are committed to growing the physician and hospital market in all of our service areas, and we are excited to have Monte join our team to lead this effort for HSG," Frese said.

The HSG family of companies is a provider of medical professional liability insurance with insureds in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. Insurance products and value-added services are provided through Missouri Hospital Plan, Medical Liability Alliance, Providers Insurance Consultants and Hospital Association Trust.

AM Best Revises Outlooks to Negative for Physicians Insurance Mutual Group’s Members

November 21, 2025 by matray

AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” (Excellent) of Physicians Insurance A Mutual Co. and its reinsured subsidiary, Physicians Insurance RRG, Inc. (Burlington, VT).

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect PI’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The negative outlooks reflect AM Best’s expectation of continued pressure on PI’s operating performance over the intermediate term. Over the most recent five-year period, underwriting losses have continued due to increased claims costs and adverse prior-year development. PI’s return metrics and operating ratios underperformed the medical professional liability peer composite average. Management has implemented various corrective actions to improve underwriting results; however, the actions have yet to bolster underwriting profitability.

Negative rating action could occur if anticipated improvements in PI’s underwriting and overall operating performance fail to materialize, resulting in a continuation of performance measures that fall below that of its peers.

St. Bernard Parish Hospital Receives LAMMICO Patient Safety Award for Sepsis-Care Improvements

November 20, 2025 by matray

St. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, La., earned the 10th Annual LAMMICO Patient Safety Award and Grant for its work to improve early recognition and treatment of sepsis.

The 2024-25 program focused on hospitals’ efforts to strengthen sepsis protocols, a growing priority as clinicians work with evolving definitions, screening tools and treatment bundles. Grant applicants completed a LAMMICO sepsis course that covered clinical signs, screening practices, treatment guidelines and related liability-risk issues.

LAMMICO said St. Bernard Parish Hospital showed the most substantial improvements in policies, procedures and processes aimed at reducing sepsis-related mortality. The hospital will use its $10,000 nursing-development grant and one-year Risk Manager membership to the American Society for Health Care Risk Management to support ongoing training.

Hospital leaders created a sepsis dashboard to monitor compliance, conducted daily concurrent patient reviews, provided real-time feedback to staff and emphasized frontline engagement through shared governance. LAMMICO said the hospital’s efforts produced measurable gains in early identification and adherence to its sepsis care bundle.

Union General Hospital in Farmerville, La., finished second in the program. The hospital earned a $5,000 nursing-development grant and a one-year ASHRM membership for strengthening its sepsis response. Its team updated staff education, streamlined early-recognition processes in the emergency department and inpatient units and reinforced the timing benchmarks in its Hour-1 bundle.

LAMMICO recognized both hospitals and highlighted the broader participation from facilities working to improve sepsis care.

MPL Association Names Eric Anderson President and CEO

November 19, 2025 by matray

The Medical Professional Liability Association announced today that its board of directors has appointed Eric Anderson as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. The MPL Association is the leading trade group representing the medical professional liability insurance sector.

Anderson has served as interim president and CEO since March 2024 while continuing in his role as vice president of strategy and operations, a position he has held since early 2022. He previously spent 13 years leading the Association’s communications, public relations and marketing functions and also served as treasurer. His broader industry experience includes three years as vice president of communications and customer experience for NORCAL Group and 13 years with NCRIC Group in marketing, investor relations and corporate communications roles.

“Eric is well suited and well prepared to lead the Association,” said MPL Association Board chair J. Michael Conerly, MD, president and CEO of LAMMICO. “I am confident that the Association will continue to prosper under Eric’s guidance. We have a strong foundation and history of success, and with Eric at the helm, we will embrace new opportunities, meet challenges head-on and adjust to the ever-changing medical liability environment.”

“I’m honored and thrilled to serve the MPL Association as president and CEO,” Anderson said. “Our members and partners are the backbone of this organization, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of their unwavering support of the Association and its mission. I’m very excited about the future of the MPL Association and its ability to meet the evolving needs of those entities that protect the delivery of healthcare.”

Anderson added that he intends to build on the work of previous leaders. “We will use our past successes as a springboard as we assess and redefine the Association for the future,” he said.

Curi Becomes First MPL Carrier to Achieve Wellbeing First Champion Distinction

November 19, 2025 by matray

Curi today announced it has been recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion for 2025 by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, a coalition of organizations led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, a nonprofit established to promote the mental health and well-being of all healthcare providers. Curi's insurance business is the first medical professional liability insurer to receive this distinction.

As a Wellbeing First Champion, Curi has verified that its insurance applications are now free of intrusive or stigmatizing language related to mental health. With these updates, physicians applying for coverage will no longer be asked to disclose distant or resolved mental health history. Instead, applicants will demonstrate their current fitness to practice — an approach that reflects today's best standards for supporting clinician wellbeing and privacy.

"At Curi, we are dedicated to standing with physicians in both their professional and personal lives," said Jason Sandner, CEO of Curi. "Being recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion affirms that commitment. This isn't just a change to an application. It's a reflection of how we believe the industry must evolve to prioritize compassion, understanding and the mental wellbeing of those who care for others."

Verification that all invasive or stigmatizing language around mental health has been removed from applications is confirmed annually by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, which works to eliminate barriers for health workers to access mental healthcare.

"Curi's leadership demonstrates how insurers can play a pivotal role in normalizing and protecting access to mental healthcare for healthcare professionals," said Corey Feist, co-founder of ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. "By removing stigmatizing questions from insurance applications, Curi is helping to dismantle one of the most persistent barriers to physician wellbeing. Their leadership is sending a powerful message to clinicians: your wellbeing matters, and seeking help should never put your career at risk."

New Coverys RiskRx PRO Helps Physicians Reduce Malpractice Exposure Amid Surging Liability Costs

November 18, 2025 by matray

Coverys today announced the launch of RiskRx PRO, an integrated suite of risk-mitigation and claims-resolution services designed to help physicians and healthcare organizations anticipate, respond to and recover from emerging challenges in today’s complex healthcare environment.

Healthcare professionals are facing rising malpractice claim severity and escalating liability costs. RiskRx PRO combines Coverys’ clinical risk-mitigation expertise, advanced analytics and claims-management services in one coordinated program that delivers both prevention and defense. It helps healthcare teams identify vulnerabilities early, strengthen communication and translate data insights into actionable strategies that reduce risk exposure, resolve claims efficiently and protect reputations.

“Today’s healthcare risks are higher and more dynamic than ever,” said Dana Siegal, Coverys vice president of risk management and analytics. “Nearly one-third of doctors will face a medical malpractice claim during their careers, underscoring the importance of proactive risk management. RiskRx PRO bridges the gap between prevention and response — helping clinicians use data, experience and collaboration to protect patients and themselves.”

According to Coverys, the RiskRx PRO debut builds on findings from its latest A Dose of Insight report, Hidden in Plain Sight: Exposing the Drivers of Diagnostic Error, Part Two: Office-Based Practice. The report analyzed 6,009 closed medical malpractice events from 2020–2024 and found that nearly one-quarter involved office-based care. Among those cases, 38% included allegations of a missed, wrong or delayed diagnosis, most often related to cancer. Coverys said these insights highlight the need for programs like RiskRx PRO, which combine proactive risk detection with experienced claims advocacy to achieve faster, stronger outcomes across care settings.

Physicians Insurance Named Among Business Insurance’s Annual Best Places to Work in Insurance

November 18, 2025 by matray

Physicians Insurance A Mutual Co. was recognized in the annual Best Places to Work in Insurance program for 2025 by Business Insurance, a sister publication of Medical Liability Monitor. The program recognizes the top 100 employers in the insurance sector for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces that stand out in employee satisfaction, professional growth and company culture.

Physicians Insurance says it is committed to hybrid work flexibility, strong benefits and meaningful in-person events that help employees collaborate, learn and succeed. Its Seattle home office was built for hybrid work, with flexible workstations and smart collaboration spaces that support seamless teamwork between in-person and remote staff.

With talent spread across the U.S., the company prioritizes bringing teams to Seattle for professional development and team-building events that strengthen connections and skills. The organization also offers a range of initiatives designed to support employee success, including formal mentorships, skills-based learning opportunities, and access to professional development programs.

“This recognition is a testament to our belief that putting people first leads to success,” said Yelena Neuman, Physicians Insurance vice president of human resources. “We’re honored to be named alongside all these other outstanding organizations. We look forward to our continued growth as we strive to do more, do better, and raise the bar on what a great workplace can be.”

Best Places to Work in Insurance is an annual sponsored content feature presented by the Custom Publishing unit of Business Insurance and Best Companies Group that lists the agents, brokers, insurance companies and other providers with the highest levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. This year’s report features 100 companies of various sizes, ranging from 25 employees to more than 4,000.