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 …

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