December 6, 2021 by matray

The December 2021 issue of Medical Liability Monitor features the following articles and more. Click here to subscribe today:

Federal Appeals Court Narrows PREP Act Liability Protections
Almost two years after the U.S. government declared COVID-19 a public health emergency, federal courts are beginning to narrow the application of the Public Readiness & Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, a law invoked via emergency declaration in early 2020 to shield providers of pandemic countermeasures from civil liability. A recent, precedent-setting federal appeals court decision raises concern over the scope of protections for hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare providers …

Milliman Inc. Analysis of Third-Quarter Financial Results for MPL Specialty Writers
Milliman actuaries note continued premium growth continued for medical professional liability specialty writers in the third quarter, although it was driven more by non-MPL premiums — which have been increasing by more than 30% per annum — than earlier this year ...

California Hospitalist Wants Federal Court to Declare Disciplinary Hearings Unconstitutional
A California hospitalist who had his hospital privileges rescinded in 2015 for substandard performance and inadequate record keeping filed a civil action last month asking a federal court to reinstate those privileges, alleging a lack of due process during medical disciplinary hearings violates the Fourteenth Amendment of U.S. Constitution …

ProAssurance Q3 Results Benefit from NORCAL Acquisition
Last month, ProAssurance Corp. reported a net income of $12.2 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2021. The company posted a third-quarter current-accident-year loss ratio of 85.2%, net-loss ratio of 82.1%, underwriting-expense ratio of 24.5%, combined ratio of 106.6% and operating ratio of 99.5%. ProAssurance also boasted a $34.5 million net investment result, an increase of 58.5% over the same period in 2020. ProAssurance’s Specialty P&C Segment reported $235 million in gross premiums written for the third-quarter 2021, up from $158.3 million for the same period in 2020. The Specialty P&C Segment’s increase in gross premiums written is primarily attributed to ProAssurance’s acquisition of NORCAL Group, which was finalized on May 5, 2021 …

AMA Adopts Policy to Combat Disinformation by Healthcare Professionals
Acknowledging the dangerous spread of public health disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, physician, resident and medical student members of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates adopted policy last month aimed at combatting public health disinformation disseminated by healthcare professionals …

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