November 30, 2023 by matray

A.M. Best has affirmed BETA Healthcare Group’s financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) with a stable outlook. This year’s rating continues to reflect BETA’s strong balance sheet, historically positive operating performance, proactive enterprise risk management program overseen by senior management with participation from the BETA Council and sound business profile as a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance. A.M. Best noted several key aspects of BETA’s structure and operations that contributed to its rating:

• Strong risk-adjusted capitalization


• A prudent loss reserve position


• Long-term history of organic surplus growth despite policyholder dividends paid annually, which are used to manage capital and return profits to stakeholders


• Ability to offer broad coverage and rate flexibility due to its structure as a Joint Powers Authority

Also noted were BETA’s strengthening of its patient safety and employee safety programs and expansive continuing education and risk management and training programs which help its members address the risks that drive loss experience.

“BETA’s ability to protect our members with superior insurance solutions and provide innovative services relies on a solid financial foundation and operational excellence,” said Corey Grove, CEO of BETA Healthcare Group. “It’s a testament to the diligent work of our team and reinforces our vision to positively impact the quality, safety and financial results of our member healthcare organizations. It’s a promise we’ve made and one that we deliver on every day.”

BETA Healthcare Group is a provider of hospital professional liability in California and provides coverage for more than 600 hospitals and healthcare facility locations.

November 16, 2023 by matray

The Horton Group announce the acquisition of Physician’s Armor Insurance Services. PAIS insures physician practices in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. Horton’s Healthcare Practice currently insures more than 3,000 medical professionals, hospitals and related healthcare entities across the United States.

PAIS was formed by its founders, Kriston Kent, MD, MPH, and Steve Adler, to represent their physician colleagues and help them navigate the difficulties of obtaining insurance, especially medical liability insurance.

“The acquisition by The Horton Group brings additional resources to the PAIS team,” said Mike Madey, healthcare practice leader at The Horton Group. “With the complexities in today’s healthcare industry, it is imperative for providers to have an insurance partner who understands their unique needs. Our Healthcare Practice is not just about offering more policies but crafting the right solutions that align with the specific challenges and needs of the healthcare community in Florida and the Southeast.”

November 16, 2023 by matray

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced it has acquired certain assets of the retail agency business Coverys Insurance Services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in East Lansing, Mich., Coverys Insurance Services is a full-service insurance broker specializing in medical professional liability for healthcare clients throughout Michigan. The Coverys Insurance Services team will remain in their current location under the direction of Ryan Isaacs, head of Gallagher’s Midwest-region retail property-and-casualty brokerage operations.

“Coverys Insurance Services is a highly regarded agency whose deep healthcare expertise provides significant opportunities for growth in the region,” said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. chairman, president and chief executive officer. “I am very pleased to welcome the Coverys Insurance Services team to Gallagher.”

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries globally through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

November 15, 2023 by matray

Integris Group announced the election of Gabriel Gambardella, DPM, to the Integris Group Board of Directors. Gambardella’s term began on Nov. 1, 2023.

November 14, 2023 by matray

QBE North America today announced that John Livatino has joined the company as senior vice president and head of healthcare liability, reporting to Dan Fortin, president of specialty insurance. Livatino joins QBE following 25 years of underwriting experience in specialty insurance.

In his new role, Livatino will be responsible for planning, directing and executing the vision for the healthcare liability segment at QBE by leveraging his deep expertise and strong cross functional relationships. Furthermore, he will lead the establishment and oversee the execution of a consistent and coordinated underwriting approach that supports business excellence and realization of our strategy.

"We're excited to welcome John to this role, as QBE develops its healthcare liability segment,” said Dan Fortin. "With decades of experience in the specialty insurance market, invaluable leadership skills, and extensive underwriting expertise, he has a standard of excellence that we are excited to leverage during this next phase of development. John has a deep knowledge of the healthcare industry, and I have the utmost confidence that he will help drive sustainable organizational growth and position QBE for long-term success in this market.”

Before joining QBE, Livatino held several leadership roles at Beazley and Markel Corp.

November 14, 2023 by matray

In a grand celebration at Pier 60 Chelsea Piers in New York City, Bruce Shulan, president and chief executive officer of EmPRO Insurance Company, was honored with the distinguished "Trailblazer Award" at the Chinese American Medical Society (CAMS) and Coalition of Asian-American IPA (CAIPA) annual Red Lantern Gala on November 4. The event highlighted the outstanding achievements of Shulan and also marked the significant milestone of CAMS' 60th Anniversary.

"This recognition by CAMS and CAIPA is deeply meaningful to me as their commitment to eliminating health disparities and advancing medical knowledge, especially within the Chinese American community, mirrors the values we uphold at EmPRO,” said Shulan upon receiving the award. “It's not individual achievements, but collective effort of a great team that makes a real difference."

Established in 1963, the CAMS mission is to improve the health status of Chinese Americans and to promote excellence in healthcare for all. The society's primary objectives include eliminating health disparities of Chinese Americans and other underserved populations, advancing medical knowledge through education, research, scholarship and philanthropy with a specific focus on aspects unique to Chinese Americans, and promoting and advocating for medical professionals of Chinese descent and like-minded individuals.

CAIPA is one of the most successful independent practice associations in Greater New York with over 1,800 private practice providers, covering over 70 specialties. CAIPA provides medical services and care to about half-a-million patients in the Asian community.

"CAMS and CAIPA’s shared mission and commitment is truly inspiring,” Shulan added. “Through education and philanthropy, these organizations have showcased the importance of unity in achieving a common goal, and I'm both humbled and invigorated to be associated with these great organizations."

Shulan's recognition as a trailblazer in the medical malpractice industry resonates with his impressive professional journey. A senior executive, Shulan has a remarkable history of steering insurance businesses through transformative periods, fostering stability and sparking substantial growth. Under his leadership at EmPRO, the company has demonstrated a commitment to financial discipline, operational enhancements, outstanding customer service and state-of-the-art technology.  

November 9, 2023 by matray

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

Court of Appeals Declares Law Granting Civil-Liability Immunity to Healthcare Professionals During COVID Pandemic Unconstitutional
The Arizona Court of Appeals recently decided that the state’s law granting immunity from civil liability to healthcare providers and institutions acting in good faith during the COVID-19 pandemic is unconstitutional. The Court of Appeals also rejected the Mayo Clinic’s argument that the claim was prohibited by the PREP Act because the ABG stick at the heart of the case did not fall within the federal law’s definition of a COVID-19 countermeasure …

Curi Holdings, Constellation Complete Merger to Offer Scale the Modern Healthcare Delivery System Requires
Curi Holdings and Constellation closed their previously announced merger last month. Both mutual holdings companies, the combined entity now operates under the name Curi, creating a unified national brand. With more than $2 billion of consolidated assets and nearly $400 million in revenue, the merged organization now serves more than 50,000 physicians, healthcare providers and organizations across the U.S. …

U.S. District Court of Minnesota Sets Aside Record Noneconomic Damage Award
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota conditionally granted a motion for a new trial last month on the issue of noneconomic damages in the case Thapa v. St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates. The plaintiff has until November 28 to file a letter stating whether he will agree to remit the jury’s award of noneconomic damages from $110 million to $10 million. If the plaintiff chooses to remit, the court will enter judgment. If the plaintiff chooses not to remit, the court will schedule a new trial on the issue of noneconomic damages …

NJ PURE Exiting Medical Professional Liability Insurance Market
New Jersey Physicians United Reciprocal Exchange (NJ PURE) announced it is exiting the medical professional liability insurance marketplace and has entered into a relationship designed to offer its insureds access to a leading A-rated medical liability carrier with The Doctors Company Risk Retention Group (RRG). NJ PURE will nonrenew all medical professional liability insurance policies during a period not to exceed three years. Nonrenewals will start with policies with effective dates on or after Nov. 30, 2023 …

Despite Increased Reliance on Advanced Practice Providers, their Claims Rate is Shrinking
A new report from Candello discovered that despite the healthcare delivery system’s increasing reliance on advance practice providers (APPs), the overall claims rate for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) appears to be declining. According to Candello’s analysis of 65,754 MPL claims closed between 2012 and 2021, the proportion of MPL claims in which an NP or PA had contributory involvement was just 8%, and they were named as defendants in only 2% of cases. Adjusted for practice population increases, it appears the overall claims rate for APPs declined …

US Senator Questions Google About its AI Healthcare Chatbot Technology
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, urged Google chief executive officer Sundar Pichai to provide greater clarity into his company’s deployment of Med-PaLM 2, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot currently being tested in healthcare settings. In a letter sent last month to the multinational technology company, Sen. Warner expressed his concern about reports of inaccuracies in the technology, calling on Google to increase transparency, protect patient privacy and ensure ethical guardrails ...

Integris Group Announces Purchase of MedMal Direct Insurance Co.
Integris Group announced last month that it has entered an agreement to purchase 100% of the stock of MedMal Direct Insurance Co., a direct-to-consumer medical professional liability (MPL) insurance company, and its agency CorePRO Insurance from Physicians Trust, Inc. (PTI). The transaction is expected to close by late December 2023, subject to PTI shareholders and regulatory approval …

Subscribe today to get this issue (as well as the 2023 Annual Rate Survey at no additional cost).

November 9, 2023 by matray

Integris Group announced that Christina Canales-Perry, JD, is joining the company as its director of claims.

“We are thrilled to welcome Christina to Integris, where she will provide a substantial benefit to our members as well as our claims team and company as a whole,” said Kirk Tweedy, Integris Group chief operating officer. “Christina’s passion for defending physicians makes her an ideal fit for our company, where we are confident she will continue her legacy of providing a robust defense to physicians and medical facilities.”

Before joining Integris, Canales-Perry was a partner at Morrison Mahoney LLP, specializing in the defense of medical professional liability claims. Prior to that, she served as a judicial clerk to the judges of the Connecticut Superior Court, as well as Judge Stuart Bear and Judge Thomas West of the Connecticut Appellate Court. Ms. Canales-Perry earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Connecticut School of Law and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Boston University.

November 2, 2023 by matray

Conventus hired Kevin Bresnahan to be its vice president of claims.

Bresnahan has been advancing the interests of insureds for 30 years as a defense trial attorney and insurance claims executive. He has worked as trial counsel for three prominent insurance in-house defense firms and has been responsible for all aspects of insurance defense litigation including coverage analysis, trials and appeals. In his most recent role, Kevin worked closely with the company's all-physician board of directors and found the mission of defending the interests of medical providers to be the most rewarding work of his career. His educational credentials include a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, further supported by bar admission in Connecticut.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kevin to our team as the new VP of Claims," SVP and Head of Claims Wade Robinson, Conventus senior vice president and head of claims. "With his extensive experience in litigation defense and claims management, we are confident he will bring added depth to our already best-in-class organization, ensuring our continued commitment to excellence in the medical malpractice claims field."