AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of New Zealand Medical Indemnity Insurance Limited

May 22, 2025 by matray

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good) of New Zealand Medical Indemnity Insurance Limited (NZMII) (New Zealand). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

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

NZMII’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation being at the strongest level as of 31 March 2024 (fiscal year-end 2024), as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Prospective risk-adjusted capitalisation remains sensitive to the pace of the company’s business growth and the size of future dividend distributions given its modest capital base. Additionally, the company’s balance sheet strength is supported by its conservative investment portfolio, consisting mainly of cash and fixed-income securities. Partially offsetting factors include the company’s small absolute capital base, which increases the sensitivity of capital to shock events, and its limited financial flexibility.

NZMII’s operating performance is assessed as adequate, supported by a return-on-equity ratio of 25.8% and a net/net combined ratio of 66.3% in fiscal year 2024, as calculated by AM Best. The company’s overall operating performance has improved significantly since fiscal year 2021, as a result of remedial actions taken by the company’s management, including premium rate adjustments and shifting the composition of the investment portfolio to reduce investment risk. In addition, NZMII’s earnings remain supported by healthy investment income, with a net investment yield (including gains) of 8.2% in fiscal year 2024.

AM Best assesses NZMII’s business profile as limited given its position as a small and niche insurer in New Zealand providing medical indemnity insurance to medical practitioners and health professionals. The company’s claims consist largely of legal fees excluding medical injury costs. As a monoline insurer with operations in a single country, AM Best views NZMII as having limited geographic and product diversification. Access to new business is supported by the company’s affiliation with the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association.

NZMII’s ERM is assessed as appropriate given the size and complexity of its operations. A key risk over the medium to long term is the disestablishment of district health boards in New Zealand, which provide considerable support to the company in accessing new business. To date, NZMII has successfully managed this risk by actively engaging with Health New Zealand, the new centralised body that replaced the district health boards, and strengthening its network.

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The Doctors Company Appoints Three New Healthcare Leaders to Its Board of Governors

May 20, 2025 by matray

The Doctors Company, part of TDC Group, announced the appointment of John M. Haupert, FACHE; Henna A. Karna, PhD; and Ami Parekh, MD, JD, to its Board of Governors.

The Doctors Company Board of Governors is composed of physicians and healthcare leaders and distinguished executives of Fortune 100 companies, representing many of the nation's leading health systems, banks, technology companies, financial advisors, and property/casualty insurers.

John M. Haupert, FACHE, is a board certified Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and recipient of the ACHE Regent's Leadership Award. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Grady Health System, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Henna A. Karna, PhD, is a tech entrepreneur and a proven expert in patented product design, development, and launch. She is a highly respected global leader in establishing effective and committed teams. Dr. Karna has won numerous awards for digital innovations that leverage artificial intelligence (AI), data, and complex analytics across various industries, including high-tech, CPG, risk management, and financial services (capital markets, payments, and commercial insurance). Dr. Karna serves on several public and private boards and holds degrees in mathematics from UMass and WPI, an MBA from MIT Sloan, and is a Senior Fellow of Harvard University.

Ami Parekh, MD, JD, is currently the Chief Health Officer at Included Health, where she leads their national primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, clinical navigation, and population health management practices. Previously, she served as the Chief Medical Officer of Population Health and Clinical Integration at UCSF Health. Her expertise is in driving system-level change toward value for the patients and purchasers of American healthcare.

"I am pleased to welcome these distinguished experts to our board," said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. "Their expertise in medicine, technology, and executive leadership will significantly bolster our efforts to provide best imaginable service to the rapidly evolving world of American healthcare as we fulfill our mission to advance, protect, and reward the practice of good medicine."

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Katherine Williams, MD, Elected to LAMMICO Board of Directors

May 19, 2025 by matray

The LAMMICO Board of Directors elected Katherine Williams, MD, to serve as a member. A practicing obstetrician-gynecologist at the Center for Women’s Health in Covington, La., Williams is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and certified in the use of various lasers and robots. Williams has served as a member of LAMMICO's  Investment & Budget Committee since 2022.

Williams received her medical degree from Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Medicine and completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at LSU Medical Center in New Orleans. In 2015, she earned her fellowship with the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. Williams has been active with professional associations and organizations, including the Louisiana Medical Disclosure Panel, St. Tammany Parish Hospital Board of Advisors, St. Tammany Parish Hospital/Ochsner Health System Physician Advisory Council, You Night Cancer Survivor Empowerment Program and St. Tammany Parish Medical Society. She is also a past president of the Louisiana State Medical Society.

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Coverys Appoints Saadia Khilji as Global Chief Information Officer

May 19, 2025 by matray

Coverys has hired Saadia Khilji as its global chief information officer (CIO). In this newly created role, Khilji will report to Catherine Donahue, chief operating officer, and will leverage her experience to shape and execute Coverys’ global IT strategy. She will also lead initiatives to modernize the company’s infrastructure, implement advanced technologies, and streamline legacy systems to drive continued growth and operational excellence.

“This marks a significant milestone for our company, as it is the first time we have a dedicated leader overseeing our global IT function,” Donahue said. “Saadia brings over 20 years of experience driving large-scale digital transformation, leading IT strategy, and executing modernization efforts at Fortune 100 companies. With her leadership and the strength of our current team, we are confident in our ability to enhance technological capabilities, optimize operational efficiency, and foster innovation across all areas of our business.”

Khilji joins Coverys from MassMutual, where she most recently served as vice president, overseeing enterprise-wide technologies and IT services. During her tenure at MassMutual, she successfully led technology modernizations, streamlined IT operations and led global technology teams to deliver measurable business outcomes. She also held leadership roles at The Hartford and Travelers Insurance, where she spearheaded digital transformation initiatives and championed innovation across complex organizations.

“I’m honored to join Coverys as its first Global Chief Information Officer,” said Khilji. “The creation of this role signals the company’s clear commitment to enhance the way it supports policyholders and the healthcare community. Coverys is well-positioned to leverage new technologies to elevate risk mitigation, claims management, and data insights, and I look forward to helping shape the technology strategy that will enable the next phase of its evolution and growth.”

Khilji holds a Master of Science in management information systems from The George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in software engineering from Lahore University of Management Sciences. She recently completed McKinsey’s Asian Executive Leadership Program and is active in mentoring rising IT leaders and advocating for equal opportunities for all in technology.

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Indigo Expands Medical Malpractice Coverage with Expert Witness Protection

May 19, 2025 by matray

Indigo Insurance today announced significant enhancements to its coverage offerings, reinforcing its commitment to comprehensive protection for physicians.​ In recognition of the critical role medical professionals play as expert witnesses in legal proceedings, Indigo is introducing a novel product extension: Expert Witness Liability Coverage.

"Physicians are often asked to contribute to the legal process as expert witnesses, which extends their expertise beyond clinical settings and opens them up to potential risk," said Braden Davis, Indigo co-founder and chief insurance officer of Indigo. "Our new coverage ensures physicians can meet this request with confidence, knowing they have protection to help in these unique situations."

This specialized coverage is designed to safeguard expert witnesses against potential claims arising from their testimony, and the policy encompasses defense costs, deposition coverage and defense against allegations of professional negligence or misrepresentation. Indigo's data-driven approach tailors this coverage to align with the unique risks associated with expert witness roles.

Indigo's platform leverages artificial intelligence to provide customized pricing based on individual risk profiles, streamlining the insurance process for both physicians and brokers. With an A- (Excellent) rating by AM Best, Indigo continues to set new standards in medical professional liability coverage. ​

Backed by leading healthcare investment firms Rubicon Founders, Oak HC/FT, and Optum Ventures, Indigo has grown conservatively since binding its first policy in December 2023 to optimize for underwriting profit – a metric that has evaded the majority of InsurTechs born in the zero interest-rate policy era. Now poised with a national distribution network of highly curated brokers and industry leading technology (no application nor loss run to bind coverage), the company expects to triple premiums and insure over 1,000 physicians by year end.

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COPIC Named 2025 Top Place to Work

May 16, 2025 by matray

COPIC Insurance Co. has been named a 2025 Top Workplace of America. The annual Top Workplaces program recognizes employers based on third-party employee surveys. COPIC was one of 150 companies to earn a spot on this year’s list. Ninety-two percent of COPIC employees said their job makes them feel part of something meaningful and that the company operates by strong values. Eighty-seven percent feel appreciated and included, and 82% believe new ideas are encouraged and the company empowers them to work at their full potential.

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North Carolina Medical Society Honored with 2025 MPL Association Humanitarian Award of Excellence

May 9, 2025 by matray

In recognition of extraordinary work in support of physicians, physician practices, and patient care, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has been awarded the Medical Professional Liability Association (MPL Association) 2025 Humanitarian Award of Excellence. This award is presented to individuals or organizations that have undertaken outstanding efforts to meet the needs of affected people during times of crisis or to affect long-term change to improve the human condition.

NCMS has a rich history spanning more than 175 years and remains fully committed to its mission: promoting the highest standards of medical practice and improving the health of the citizens of North Carolina. The western part of the state sustained massive damage during Hurricane Helene—obliterating several of the small towns, the infrastructure, and much of what made that area so unique. NCMS immediately stepped in to provide relief and recovery efforts to friends and colleagues. The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation (NCMS-F) is the philanthropic arm of the NCMS. The NCMS-F was able to activate its Disaster Relief Fund, which is dedicated to helping community practices recover and remain in place for their patients. NCMS and NCMS-F also worked to provide grants to rebuild or repair any damaged practices. Priority was given to any smaller practices with physical damage, loss of supplies, and/or loss of vaccines. The NCMS has also raised more than $550,000 for disaster relief efforts to date.

“The North Carolina Medical Society displayed quick action and a cooperative spirit to assist its members and their patients in the wake of such long-term devastation,” said J. Michael Conerly, MD, chair of the MPL Association’s Board of Directors and president and CEO of LAMMICO. “This award honors NCMS for its work following Hurricane Helene, but also its long-standing commitment to the state’s physicians and physician practices. We commend NCMS for its efforts working directly with impacted healthcare professionals as well as connecting and collaborating with volunteers, first responders, and government agencies to assist the larger community.”

“The North Carolina Medical Society is honored to receive the MPL Association's Humanitarian Award of Excellence,” said NCMS Board Member Ronald B. Laney, Jr., MD. “We are proud to support our members, their patients, and the community as a whole. We, as an organization, will persist in making sure our physicians and their practices recover and remain in place to serve the citizens of North Carolina.”

Laney will accept the award on behalf of the North Carolina Medical Society at the MPL Association’s annual meeting on May 22 in Austin, Texas.

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Los Angeles County Medical Association Honored with 2025 MPL Association Humanitarian Award of Excellence

May 9, 2025 by matray

In recognition of extraordinary work in support of physicians, physician practices and patient care, the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) has been awarded the Medical Professional Liability Association (MPL Association) 2025 Humanitarian Award of Excellence. This award is presented to individuals or organizations that have undertaken outstanding efforts to meet the needs of affected people during times of crisis or to affect long-term change to improve the human condition.

LACMA was founded in 1871 and is the largest regional medical association in the nation with more than 7,000 members. At the outset of the Los Angeles fire catastrophe, when only seven acres were burned, LACMA mobilized staff, galvanized the board of directors, and notified its network of 14,000 physicians across the region to be aware of the potential for disaster. The fires eventually destroyed lives and livelihoods; disrupted pivotal services such as public health, medical care, and infrastructure. Nearly 50,000 acres and 15,000 homes, businesses, and structures were lost in both the Palisades and Eaton fires.

“The Los Angeles County Medical Association exhibited both a tremendous response and ongoing commitment to physicians in the face of the disaster,” said J. Michael Conerly, MD, chair of the MPL Association’s Board of Directors and President and CEO of LAMMICO. “This award honors them for their important service every day but particularly throughout the tragedy of the wildfire devastation. We applaud LACMA for addressing the immediate needs of its physician members including home and medical practice rebuilding, practice sustainability, patient communications, and so much more, as well as the ongoing efforts to continue to assist those impacted.”

"The Los Angeles County Medical Association is honored to receive the MPL Association's Humanitarian Award of Excellence,” said LACMA chief executive officer Gustavo Friederichsen. “We are proud to support our members and have seen so many segments of our community come together, show resiliency, and make countless contributions to support those on healthcare's front line of service.”

“The rebuilding process will take several years but LACMA is here for the survivors, regardless of membership status, just like we were during the public health crisis of 2020 as we stay true to our conviction: ‘Doctors take care for patients. LACMA takes cares of you,’” Friederichsen stated. Friederichsen will accept the award on behalf of the Los Angeles County Medical Association at the MPL Association’s annual meeting on May 22 in Austin, Texas.

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Frank Lavoie, MD, Former President & CEO, Medical Mutual Insurance Company of Maine, to Receive 2025 MPL Association Award of Excellence in Honor of Peter Sweetland

May 9, 2025 by matray

The Medical Professional Liability Association (MPL Association) has announced that Frank Lavoie, MD, will receive the 2025 Award of Excellence in Honor of Peter Sweetland. Dr. Lavoie is being honored for his outstanding contributions and longtime dedication to the MPL insurance community, the MPL Association and healthcare professionals. The MPL Association is the leading international organization representing the medical professional liability insurance community.

Dr. Lavoie was president and chief executive officer of Medical Mutual Insurance Company of Maine for nine years, and a member of the company’s board for 12 years. Prior to his appointment as president and CEO, he had a long career in hospital administration, including roles as chief medical officer and chief operating officer.

Dr. Lavoie served on the MPL Association’s Board of Directors for seven years. In addition, he was a member of the Nominating Committee and the Finance & Audit Committee, as well as serving as chair of the CEO/COO Section and Regional Member Roundtable.

“Dr. Lavoie has been a dedicated and exemplary member of the medical profession and of the MPL community," said MPL Association Board Chair J. Michael Conerly, MD, LAMMICO president and CEO. "We are very pleased to honor him for his extraordinary commitment to the physician community, the MPL industry and this Association. We are so pleased to be able to honor his career that has supported quality delivery of healthcare, the important work of medical professionals, and the mission of this organization.”

“We are truly appreciative of Dr. Lavoie’s service to the MPL Association,” said Eric R. Anderson, MPL Association interim president and CEO. “The Association prospers thanks to the contributions of steadfast members such as Dr. Lavoie and we applaud his tremendous work on both our behalf and on behalf of all of those who have a stake in the protection and provision of healthcare.”

The award will be presented on May 22 at the MPL Association Conference held in Austin, Texas.

The MPL Association Award of Excellence in Honor of Peter Sweetland, established in 1993 by the MPL Association’s Board of Directors, was created in honor of the late Peter Sweetland, one of the Association’s chief architects and most fervent supporters. The award recognizes an individual who has provided exemplary service to the industry and the MPL Association, and who epitomizes the high ideals and ethics for which Peter Sweetland stood.

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Medical Liability Monitor May 2025 issue highlights

May 7, 2025 by matray

Below are some headlines and article synopses from the May 2025 issue of Medical Liability Monitor. To read the articles in their entirety, please subscribe today.

Pregnancy-Related Deaths Surge Nearly 28% in U.S., Widening Racial and Geographic Disparities
A new national analysis published in JAMA Network Open last month reveals a 27.7% surge in pregnancy-related deaths in the United States between 2018 and 2022, highlighting urgent public health concerns and persistent disparities by race, socioeconomic status and geography. As maternal mortality rates climb — especially in states with under-resourced healthcare systems and enduring racial, socioeconomic and geographic inequities — claims related to obstetric and postpartum care can be expected to increase in both frequency and severity …

CARE RRG Placed into Rehabilitation by Vermont Court
The Vermont Superior Court for Washington County last month ordered CARE Risk Retention Group into rehabilitation due to concerns over the medical professional liability insurer’s “hazardous financial condition” …

AM Best Maintains ‘Stable’ Outlook for Medical Professional Liability Segment
AM Best is maintaining its “Stable” outlook for the U.S. medical professional liability insurance segment in 2025, citing strong capital positions, favorable investment conditions and the industry’s proven resilience amid a complex operating environment …

Medical Societies Urge Ohio Supreme Court to Review Reversal of Defense Verdict in Malpractice Case
The Ohio State Medical Association, American Medical Association, Ohio Hospital Association and Ohio Osteopathic Association filed an amicus curiae memorandum last month urging the Supreme Court of Ohio to accept jurisdiction over the appeal in Rau v. Miami Valley Hospital et al. The Court of Appeals of Ohio 2nd Appellate District reversed a defense verdict on Jan. 3, citing prejudicial error by the trial court in admitting evidence related to informed consent, discussions of specific procedural risks and cumulative expert testimony …

Calif. AG Warns Insurers to Comply with Law Protecting MedMal Coverage for Reproductive, Gender-Affirming Care
California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently sent letters to 15 medical professional liability insurance companies, reminding them of their obligations under Assembly Bill 571 and requesting copies of their policies to demonstrate compliance with the law. AB 571 provides protections for California healthcare providers who offer often-contentious services such as abortion, contraception and gender-affirming care …

Missouri Jury Awards Record $48.1M Verdict in Birth Injury Case
A St. Louis County jury recently awarded the largest medical malpractice verdict in Missouri history for an infant neurologically injured at birth. The $48.1 million verdict surpassed the previous record of $34.1 million set in a 2021 case against CoxHealth Hospital in Springfield, Mo. …

Subscribe today to get this issue (as well as the 2024 and 2025 Annual Rate Survey at no additional cost).

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