November 20, 2017 by matray

CMIC Group, a member-owned medical professional liability insurance provider, recently appointed CMIC board member Paul Darcy, MD, as chairman of the Underwriting Committee.

“Dr. Darcy is a highly skilled, experienced and well-respected physician whose attributes will benefit not only the Underwriting Committee but the company as a whole,” said Denise Funk, chief executive officer of CMIC Group. “His unique skillset will further enhance our highly diligent and responsible underwriting processes and decisions.”

Darcy graduated from Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He completed his residency and fellowship training at Beth Israel Hospital/Harvard Medical School. As a board certified anesthesiologist, he is chairman of the Department of Anesthesia and medical director of Perioperative Services at Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford, Mass., and president of Milford Anesthesia Associates (Massachusetts). He serves on the Board of Trustees and the Medical Executive Committee at Milford Regional Medical Center.

November 15, 2017 by matray

The majority (55 percent) of U.S. physicians have been sued, and nearly half of them more than once, according to the results of Medscape’s Physician Malpractice Report 2017.  The survey of 4,000 doctors across more than 25 specialties was published online today. This marks a 15 percent increase over Medscape’s 2013 Malpractice Report. The Malpractice Report is located here. 

Specialists, particularly surgeons (85 percent) and OB/Gyns (85 percent), were far more likely to be sued than primary care doctors; psychiatrists (29 percent) and dermatologists (28 percent) were the specialists named least frequently in lawsuits.  Accordingly, malpractice insurance premiums range from nearly $200,000 annually for a New York City OB/Gyn to about $38,000 for an internist.

Failure to diagnose a patient’s condition or complications arising from treatment were the most common reasons that patients sued.  

However, malpractice suits took most physicians by surprise (58 percent) and an almost equal number (51 percent) said the experience changed their attitudes towards patients — with 26 percent saying they no longer trust patients or treat them differently, i.e., practicing ‘defensive medicine’; 6 percent left the practice setting and 3 percent changed insurers.)  

While the survey found most suits were dismissed or settled before trial, it also found being sued takes a toll. One-third of those surveyed spent more than 40 hours preparing their defense and an almost equal number took three to five years to resolve their case. The majority of physicians cited better communication with patients as a way to reduce the number of malpractice suits, along with medical screening panels to determine the merits of a suit and caps on non-economic damages.

November 14, 2017 by matray

Alera Group — an Illinois-based specialists in employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management — acquired Flagship Healthcare, a physician-owned insurance brokerage specializing in professional liability insurance solutions for healthcare providers. The acquisition was effective Nov 1, 2017. Flagship Healthcare will join Alera Group through local firm GCG Financial in Chicago, IL.

November 10, 2017 by matray

CMIC Group announced that Edmund Schiavoni, MD, has been elected president of the CMIC Risk Retention Group Board of Directors. “Dr. Schiavoni brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience to his new role on the CMIC RRG Board of Directors,” said Denise Funk, CMIC Group chief executive officer. “His extensive expertise will be an asset to the company as well as the RRG Board itself.” Schiavoni has practiced primary care internal medicine for more than 25 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, his medical degree from Georgetown University and his postgraduate medical training at Georgetown University Medical Center. He is the president of Southern New Hampshire Internal Medicine Associates and has been in a variety of hospital leadership roles, including chief of medicine, chair of credentials and chair of the Board of Trustees. He has also served on the Executive Council of the New Hampshire Medical Society.

November 8, 2017 by matray

ISMIE Mutual Insurance Co. and ISMIE Indemnity announced plans yesterday for expanded product and service availability in Wisconsin. With a recently updated state rate filing, the companies will offer medical liability coverage for health professionals, groups and healthcare facilities.

“ISMIE has served medical professionals in Wisconsin for many years and we have exciting plans for our future in the state,” said Paul H. DeHaan, MD, ISMIE vice chairman. “We expect a strong response as the Wisconsin healthcare sector becomes more familiar with ISMIE’s diverse products and services.”

ISMIE Executive Vice President Wayne de Nazarie added, “Over four decades, ISMIE has built a national reputation as a carrier known for its financial strength, unparalleled policyholder service and unwavering defense of physicians and healthcare facilities," said Wayne de Nazarie, ISMIE executive vice president. "As ISMIE continues its expansion, we look forward to strengthening ties with our new policyholders and the best agents and brokers in Wisconsin.”

November 7, 2017 by matray

The Iowa Medical Society (IMS) recently announced that COPIC was selected as the preferred medical professional liability insurance provider for its members and will serve as an IMS Strategic Partner.

November 7, 2017 by matray

The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) announced that seven years after the release of its highly popular Medicine on Trial, it has published a new second edition as an educational resource for its member physicians.

Inspired by the positive response to its original edition, Medicine on Trial – Risk Management Lessons from Litigated Cases, Second Edition is a compilation of more than 80 real-life, litigated cases, providing insights into the experience of physicians who have been involved in court or arbitration disputes with their patients. Each case, accompanied by a commentary from CAP’s general counsel Gordon Ownby, sheds light on the various policies and routine procedures that physicians can implement to minimize risk in their own practice.

This comprehensive medical malpractice case reference, available in a desktop book as well as electronic versions, is offered to CAP members as a complimentary resource, explaining how physicians in private practice and hospital settings can better communicate with their patients — and each other — to mitigate risk. It also addresses topics such as dealing with challenging patients, adhering to patient rights and confidentiality requirements, end-of-life conversations and more.

“No healthcare provider wants to be embroiled in a legal dispute, but the reality is that – regardless of their commitment to employing best practices – most physicians will be sued for medical malpractice at least once during their lifetime,” Ownby said. “By offering these real-world case studies, CAP is providing its members with the insight to build on those practices that improve medical outcomes and minimize risk.”

"Today’s physicians must practice expert medicine with a keen understanding of technology and law – and that can present myriad challenges," said Sarah Pacini, CAP chief executive officer. "That’s why CAP has built a formidable team of risk management specialists whose extensive acumen spans all facets of the healthcare and legal professions. Their expert consultations and guidance, paired with invaluable content offerings such as Medicine on Trial, continue to provide immeasurable value to CAP members.”  

November 6, 2017 by matray

NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company announced that it is now offering coverage to healthcare professionals in Tennessee.

November 2, 2017 by matray

CMIC Group announced the election of John Hornby, MD, as the chairman and president of the CMIC Board of Directors.

A CMIC policyholder since 1987 and a member of the CMIC Board of Directors since 2006, Hornby has a long and impactful history with the company. His most recent role was as vice chairman on the CMIC Board of Directors.

“Having served as vice chairman of the CMIC Board and also as Chair for many CMIC Committees, Dr. Hornby is well positioned to guide the various facets and inner workings of the company as the chairman and president,” said Denise Funk, CMIC Group chief executive officer. “CMIC Group as a whole will benefit from his continued leadership in this new role.”

Hornby graduated from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1973. He is board certified in ophthalmology and is senior attending at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn. Dr. Hornby is currently in private practice in Old Saybrook, Conn.

November 2, 2017 by matray

Rosemary Ofume and Donatus Iriele have each been ordered to pay $2.5 million in community restitution.  The community restitution funds are to be paid to the Georgia state agencies responsible for substance abuse treatment and victims assistance.  The defendants, who are husband and wife, formerly owned the Medicine Center Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia.  They were sentenced on July 20, 2017, to 19 and 20 years in prison, respectively, for illegally dispensing controlled narcotics to customers of the AMARC “pill mill” pain clinic. “The defendants used their pharmacy to supply pills to patients of a known ‘pill mill’ and then laundered millions of dollars to conceal their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.  “These pharmacists fed opiate addictions among so many as a means to sustain their lifestyles.  Now, they will begin to serve lengthy prison sentences and pay back the state of Georgia to account for some of the harm they caused to the community.  This money will go to help the individuals whose lives have been scarred by addiction.” Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “It is a sad commentary when trusted individuals in the medical community hide behind the veil of legitimacy to commit criminal acts. These pharmacists can no longer fill the opiate cravings of pill-seeking addicts with impunity. Owners and operators of pill mills spin a broad web of deception, reeling in casts of thousands who are addicted to pharmaceutical drugs. This investigation was a success because of the spirited level of law enforcement cooperation.” “These convictions have removed a huge tumor from the cancer that illicit drug distribution has become during our lifetime. The hard work invested in this case by all parties, from the U.S. Attorney’s office, to the boots on the ground front-line drug agents, and everyone in-between, proves what dedication, persistence and cooperation can accomplish. It’s proof positive that just because you have a license to practice pharmacy, you aren’t entitled to put illicitly prescribed drugs on the street and contribute to the skyrocketing opioid addiction and overdose death rates. All health care professionals are put on notice to remember: you are to do no harm. And if you intentionally ignore this charge, you are going to be treated the same as a street-corner drug dealer in this war on opioid abuse,” said Dennis M. Troughton Sr., Director, Georgia Drugs & Narcotics Agency. According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court:  In May 2009, agents of the DEA, working with agents for the IRS, began investigating the AMARC pain clinic, located on Lakewood Avenue in Atlanta and nearby Medicine Center Pharmacy, after receiving information that the clinic and pharmacy were illegitimately prescribing and dispensing pain pills to drug addicts and drug dealers. The investigation revealed that Godfrey Ilonzo financed and operated at least eight clinics in the metro Atlanta area under the “AMARC” name, including the Lakewood pain clinic and one in Tyrone, Georgia.  Bona Ilonzo (Godfrey Ilonzo’s wife) served as the office manager at the Lakewood AMARC pain clinic.  At various times, Dr. Nevorn Askari and Dr. William Richardson served as the primary doctors for the AMARC pain clinics.  Rosemary Ofume and Donatus Iriele operated the Medicine Center Pharmacy across the street from one of the pain clinics.  Both Godfrey and Bona Ilonzo, as well as Drs. Askari and Richardson, pleaded guilty to charges related to their conduct at the clinic.  Ofume and Iriele were later convicted at trial of drug trafficking and money laundering charges related to the pharmacy. Ofume and Iriele worked together with the Ilonzos and Drs. Askari and Richardson to facilitate the dispensing of oxycodone pills and other opiates to addicts and distributors.  After customers received prescriptions from Askari and Richardson for medically inappropriate and potentially lethal combinations of opiates and other controlled substances, clinic staff told customers to fill their prescriptions across the street at “Rosemary’s pharmacy” (Medicine Center Pharmacy operated by Ofume and Iriele).  Many of those customers traveled to the AMARC clinics and Ofume/Iriele’s pharmacy from counties throughout Georgia and from other states (including Alabama and Ohio). Customers waited for hours at the Lakewood AMARC pain clinic and paid cash to receive prescriptions for oxycodone/hydrocodone, Xanax, and Soma (the “holy trinity” for resale on the street) before purchasing the pills at high prices from Ofume and Iriele’s pharmacy.  Employees at the AMARC clinics and Ofume and Iriele’s pharmacy received discounts and special treatment, including free office visits and reduced prices for pills dispensed at the pharmacy.  Ofume lied to pharmaceutical distributors to procure astronomical quantities of oxycodone and other prescription pain pills that were then dispensed to customers having obvious signs of addiction or drug diversion.  Between 2009 and 2012, Medicine Center Pharmacy purchased 1,360,410 opioid pills.  Significantly, in 2009, the pharmacy purchased eleven times more oxycodone than the average pharmacy in the state of Georgia. During the course of the conspiracy, Ofume and Iriele generated more than $5.1 million dollars from unlawful prescriptions issued by doctors affiliated with the AMARC clinics (constituting more than 90% of the pharmacy’s revenue).  Iriele used pharmacy proceeds to purchase three luxury vehicles for his and Ofume’s personal use. Iriele and Ofume also laundered pharmacy proceeds by purchasing vehicles in the United States for individuals in Nigeria while concealing that those customers were depositing equivalent amounts of local Nigerian currency into Iriele’s personal Nigerian bank account. In 2007, the Georgia Board of Pharmacy had revoked Iriele’s pharmacy license (and temporarily suspended Ofume’s pharmacy license) after finding that Ofume and Iriele had failed to account for more than 600,000 controlled substances pills at their pharmacies and had dispensed controlled substances pursuant to more than 1,400 forged prescriptions. Donatus Iriele, 63, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced on July 20, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  Rosemary Ofume, 59, also of Atlanta, was sentenced by Judge Jones on the same day, to 19 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  Ofume and Iriele were convicted on March 24, 2017, after a three-week jury trial on federal drug and money laundering charges in connection with their operation of Medicine Center Pharmacy, in Atlanta. Based on the convictions, Ofume and Iriele were ordered to forfeit to the United States $16,767 in cash seized from the pharmacy, $133,892.74 in funds seized from the pharmacy’s bank account, a 2009 BMW X5, a 2008 Mercedes Benz ML550, and a 2007 BMW X5.  The Georgia Board of Pharmacy suspended Ofume’s pharmacy license (and the license of Medicine Center Pharmacy) as a result of the convictions. Judge Jones ordered a community restitution award requiring Ofume and Iriele to pay a total of $5 million under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3663(c), to be distributed to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for victims’ assistance, in restitution for the public harm caused by Ofume and Iriele’s conduct.  Such a restitution order is the first of its kind in the nation against pharmacists, which also recognizes the public harm diverted opiates have caused the citizens of the state of Georgia. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.