NFP Acquires Presidio Financial Services Corp., Expands Its Specialized Medical Malpractice Insurance Expertise

June 29, 2023 by matray

NFP, a property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement plan advisor, announced it has acquired Presidio Financial Services Corp. Based in Westlake Village, Calif., Presidio is an independent insurance brokerage that provides an extensive range of products and solutions tailored specifically for physicians, hospitals, healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals. The acquisition closed on April 7.

Gisela Plazas, Presidio's founder and CEO, will be joining NFP and working with Scott Foster, NFP’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Specialty practice leader. “We’re very excited to welcome Gisela to NFP,” said Foster. “She is a strong producer with an extensive network of relationships, and we look forward to introducing NFP’s breadth of solutions to her current and future clients.”

Founded in 2002, Presidio’s specialized insurance offerings include healthcare professional liability, business office coverage, errors and omissions, workers’ compensation, commercial general liability, directors and officers, cyber liability, employment practices liability and umbrella coverage.

“Adding Presidio is a great strategic move for our growing P&C presence in the Western US,” said Mike Schneider, president of NFP’s West region. “Gisela’s specialized expertise in medical malpractice will complement our existing capabilities and create new opportunities to deliver value to clients.”

"I’m thrilled to join NFP and begin contributing to the success of a growing, people-first organization,” said Plazas. “This is a great opportunity for me to integrate my medical malpractice knowledge across the organization and introduce additional solutions to our clients.”  

Integris RRG Elects Two Doctors to its Board of Directors at Recent Annual Meeting of Members

June 28, 2023 by matray

Integris Group announced the elections of Powen Hsu, MD, and Jeffrey Rind, MD, to the Integris RRG Board of Directors. The elections took place at the Integris RRG Annual Meeting of Members on June 9th.

“The addition of Dr. Hsu and Dr. Rind to our Board of Directors will deliver new insights and perspective to the Company,” said Stephen J. Gallant, Integris Group chief executive officer. “Both physicians bring a wealth of knowledge to our Board of Directors. We are confident their presence will enhance our progress towards our strategic goals, benefiting our policyholders. We look forward to working with them as we continue our mission of strategic growth and welcome their contributions.”

Powen Hsu, board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and addiction medicine, is the medical director at the Farnum Center, an addiction treatment center in Manchester, NH. He has also served as medical director at several other facilities, including Fusion Health Services, Encompass Health Concord, Blueprint/Bonfire Recovery Center and as the section chief of adult medicine at Catholic Medical Center. Hsu is a past member of Catholic Medical Center’s Board of Directors. Hsu received his medical degree from Tufts University and completed his postgraduate medical training at Salem Hospital, Sinai Hospital, and John Hopkins University Hospital.

A board certified neurologist, Rind is a founding member and managing partner of Derry Neurological Associates in Derry, NH. Rind has also served in a variety of hospital leadership roles, including chief of staff, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and chairman of the Credentials Committee at Parkland Medical Center. He is a past member of the Center for Life Management’s Board of Directors and Finance Committee. Rind received his undergraduate degree from State University of New York at New Paltz, his Ph.D. from City University of New York, his medical degree from New York Medical College and completed his postgraduate medical training at Mount Sinai Hospital.  

Integris Group Elects Gary DiDato, MD, to the Board of Directors at Annual Meeting of Members

June 28, 2023 by matray

Integris Group announced the election of Gary DiDato, MD, to a three-year term on the Integris Group Board of Directors. The election took place June 10 at the Integris Group Annual Meeting of Members. DiDato was initially appointed to the Board in January of 2023.

“We are pleased to officially welcome Dr. DiDato to the board of directors following his election by our membership,” said Stephen J. Gallant, Integris Group chief executive officer. “His expertise will prove to be an asset in executing our strategic plans and continuing to grow the Company.”

DiDato is an anesthesiologist currently serving as senior attending at Middlesex Health and as an attending anesthesiologist at the Middlesex Endoscopy Center, Shoreline Colonoscopy Suites, the Middlesex Center for Advanced Orthopedic Surgery and the Guilford Surgery Center. DiDato is the vice president of anesthesiologists of Middletown, PC, located in Middletown, Conn., where he has been practicing since 2005. He is also the Department of Anesthesia chairman at Middlesex Hospital.  

The Doctors Company Awarded a Great Place to Work Certification

June 20, 2023 by matray

The Doctors Company announced it was certified as a Great Place to Work in 2023. This is the second time the company has received the designation.

A global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors required for market-leading revenue, employee retention and innovation, the Great Place to Work Institute uses its Trust Index Survey to assess employee satisfaction in key areas. A summary of The Doctors Company scores includes:

• 92% said when they joined The Doctors Company, they were made to feel welcome.


• 90% said The Doctors Company management is honest and ethical in its business practices.


• 90% perceive that management promotes inclusive behavior, avoids discrimination, and is committed to ensuring fair appeals.

“Promoting a people-focused culture is a fundamental part of our talent strategy,” said Rachel Nelson, vice president of human resources for The Doctors Company. “We intentionally and regularly seek employee feedback — inviting every voice to be heard as we continue our ongoing efforts to improve the employee experience.”

“Our company culture is a top priority, and this certification is a testament to the mission-based work environment created by our people,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. “Healthcare is changing rapidly, and we are anchored in purpose and driven to serve.”

Medical Liability Monitor June 2023 issue highlights

June 13, 2023 by matray

Below are some headlines and article synopses from the June 2023 issue of Medical Liability Monitor. To read the articles in entirety, please subscribe today.

AM Best: U.S. Medical Professional Liability Insurers Make Underwriting, Net Income Gains Despite Difficult Environment
Despite improved underwriting results and a positive net income, AM Best is maintaining its negative outlook for the medical professional liability (MPL) insurance segment in 2023. The ratings agency justified the outlook on the segment’s negative returns and an overall decline in policyholders’ surplus due primarily to unrealized losses stemming from volatility in the capital markets …

New Leapfrog Report Reveals COVID-Related Increase in Healthcare-Associated Infections
The latest data from The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2023 Hospital Safety Grade indicates that the average risk of three healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) reached a five-year high in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains elevated. These infections include Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). The report also reveals a continuous decline in patient experience measures, which are self-reported by patients and have a correlation with patient outcomes …

Inaugural MPL Association Report on State of the Market Reveals Industry’s Slowing Financial Progress
A new report published by the Medical Professional Liability Association indicates the medical professional liability (MPL) insurance sector posted a 5.9-percentage-point improvement in its combined ratio last year — down from 108.1% in 2021 to 102.2% in 2022 — demonstrating its best performance since 2017 when the industry reported a combined ratio of 101.7%. The industry still has not generated an underwriting profit since 2013 …

Florida Gives Providers, Payors Right to Refuse Care Due to Conscience
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed SB 1580, or the “Protections of Medical Conscience” bill, which permits healthcare providers in the state to refuse services on the grounds that it violates their “sincerely held religious, moral or ethical belief.” The bill similarly applies to healthcare insurers, health plans and “any other entity that pays for, or arranges for payment of, any healthcare service.” The bill specifies that it does not preempt the federal Emergency Medical Treatment & Active Labor Act, which requires hospitals to stabilize any patient with an emergency condition. It further clarifies that the legislation cannot be used to deny care based on a patient’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin. There are no protections for gender identity or sexuality. The law takes effect July 1 ...

Medical Professional Liability Industry Convenes in New Orleans to Address Unique Challenges, Emerging Trends
The Medical Professional Liability (MPL) Association hosted its Annual Conference at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans from May 17 - 19. Meeting in person for only the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the conference carried an optimistic tone as the industry gathered to learn, network and share insights into the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry …

Subscribe today to get this issue (as well as the 2022 Annual Rate Survey at no additional cost).

The Doctors Company Names Christa Steele, MBA, to Board of Governors

June 5, 2023 by matray

The Doctors Company today announced the appointment of Christa Steele to its board of governors. Steele is a financial and governance executive with decades of corporate leadership experience across a wide range of industries.

Steele currently serves on the board of Tanimura & Antle and is vice chair of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Northern California Chapter.

“We are pleased to welcome Christa Steele to our Board of Governors,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. “Her leadership experience in both public and private companies, combined with her skills in digital technologies and environmental, social, and governance strategies, will strengthen our ability to serve the entire medical profession.”

Steele is the former CEO of Balco Holdings, Inc., and previously served as president, CEO and board director of Mechanics Bank. Her prior board experience includes Recology as board chair, BrainChip Holdings, OFG Bancorp, Sasser Family Holdings and FIG Partners.

“I am excited to join this group of outstanding leaders from the healthcare and business communities in support of the management team at The Doctors Company and TDC Group,” Steel said. “As a former technology and bank CEO, I believe I am well positioned to assist The Doctors Company and TDC Group as healthcare continues to evolve, and larger technological partners enter the space.”

Steele earned an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Sacramento. She is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow with Governance Certification. Steele is a Member of the Audit and the Finance & Risk Committees at The Doctors Company.