December 13, 2018 by matray

Hub International Limited, a global insurance brokerage, announced that it has acquired the assets of Nolen Associates, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Springfield, Penn., Nolen Associates is a full-service medical malpractice insurance agency that represents more than 1,000 healthcare professionals throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Further strengthening Hub's Healthcare practice, Ray Nolen, president of Nolen Associates, and vice presidents Patrick Nolen and Michael Nolen will report to Shawn McLaughlin, national practice leader of Hub Healthcare and CSO for Hub New England. "We are excited to add the expertise of Ray, Pat and Mike to Hub's expanding Healthcare practice," McLaughlin said. "We look forward to enhancing the great, personalized service their clients are accustomed to with the resources of Hub's Healthcare Specialty."

December 6, 2018 by matray

Milliman, Inc., a global consulting and actuarial firm, recently announced that Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company has selected Milliman Datalytics-Defense as its advanced analytics legal management platform for processing defense cost invoices. Milliman Datalytics-Defense employs data mining algorithms and machine learning to help insurers and self-insureds detect patterns in attorney billing practices, delivering a better understanding of both costs and defense strategies.

“At Physicians Insurance we seek out forward-thinking solutions that provide value to our members,”says John Domeika, Physicians Insurance A Mutual senior vice president. “With Milliman Datalytics-Defense, we’ve gained an innovative claims handling process that will improve strategies and help us best steward our member resources.”

Milliman Datalytics-Defense is designed specifically for the insurance industry and has subject matter expertise built into the technology and reporting. The tool’s predictive analytic engine is fueled by a powerful and proprietary data-mining algorithm for greater accuracy and the ability to turn text into structured data.

“To manage and mitigate risk effectively today, it’s necessary to employ tools that take advantage of advanced analytics techniques like data mining and machine learning,” saidChad C. Karls, principal and consulting actuary with Milliman. “We look forward to working with Physicians Insurance to help reduce costs and increase transparency in the claims handling process.” 

December 5, 2018 by matray

Constellation, Inc., recently announced a strategic partnership with Imprivata, a healthcare IT security company offering technology that addresses two critical needs: safeguarding electronic systems and healthcare data as well as improving efficiency in the way clinical work is done.

Imprivata OneSign sin

gle sign-on technology can save typical care providers up to 45 minutes per shift by allowing them to log into electronic health systems just once and eliminating the need to remember and enter their usernames and passwords countless additional times. The technology’s advanced authentication ensures that those who sign in to the system are authorized to do so, a key protection for system and data security.

“Our agreement with Imprivata marks a significant milestone in Constellation’s strategy to offer solutions that support the success of physicians, hospitals and senior-living and long-term care communities beyond medical professional liability insurance,” said Bill McDonough, Constellation CEO. “Our partnership will enable us to help healthcare organizations and clinicians reduce time spent on administrative tasks and regain time for patient care. Optimizing care team time provides both business and personal benefits, including improved satisfaction for both patients and clinicians.”

“Constellation is a trusted organization with an excellent reputation,” said Wes Wright, chief technology officer at Imprivata. “Through Constellation, we’ll be able to deliver the benefits of our platform to a broader network of providers – and help them better leverage both talent and time to deliver care more efficiently and securely.”

Under the agreement, Constellation’s medical professional liability companies – MMIC, UMIA and Arkansas Mutual Insurance Co. – will exclusively market Imprivata’s portfolio of healthcare IT security solutions in the 16 states where they serve customers. Those states include Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Constellation’s collaboration with Imprivata marks its third expansion of services beyond medical professional liability insurance. Earlier, it introduced the Physician Empowerment Suite, an online platform designed to help healthcare providers deliver a better patient experience and improve operational performance and effectiveness. And in January 2018, it established a strategic collaboration with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), a leading healthcare professional services, consulting and advisory firm.

December 5, 2018 by matray

KAMMCO released a new Opioid/Controlled Substances dashboard for physicians, hospitals and behavioral health providers participating in the KAMMCO network of health information exchanges. The tool supplements the existing Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) currently available in most states.

“The KAMMCO tool builds upon a more comprehensive set of data than the PDMP, which only captures filled prescription data, and does not include medications which are administered to patients in healthcare facilities,” said Laura McCrary, Ed.D, KAMMCO senior vice president. “The new dashboard provides participating clinicians with the list of opioids/controlled substances prescribed or administered to a clinician’s patients even before a prescription is filled at the pharmacy.”

The tool utilizes data from the physician-led KAMMCO network of health information exchanges and is available to prescribing providers and their designated delegates.

To develop this advanced analytics tool, the KAMMCO Analytics and Business Intelligence team worked with a multi-disciplinary group of practicing physicians to assess how health information exchange data could better inform physicians regarding their patients’ history of opioid/controlled substance use. The tool allows clinicians to identify individuals in their patient population who received at least one prescription/administration of opioids/controlled substances, by facility and date range up to 12 months, and also displays the top five opioid medications prescribed/administered to their patients.

KAMMCO provides physicians with access to aggregate clinical data from itshealth information exchange through secure web-based dashboards. Additional analytic dashboards available to KAMMCO network participants include: High Risk Patients, 30 Day Readmissions, Disease Registries, Health Care Utilization, Behavioral Health, Preventive Care Quality Reporting and Polychronic Conditions. Participants may also request custom ad-hoc reports.

The Opioid/Controlled Substances dashboard is available to participating physicians and health systems as a part of the KAMMCO physician-led health information exchanges in Kansas, Georgia, South Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, Missouri, and Louisiana. All exchanges are delivered in partnership with the state medical societies.

November 16, 2018 by matray

Willow Risk Advisors announced a partnership with American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) for an exclusive medical professional liability insurance program available to its members. In an effort to further increase value to its physician members, The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) endorsed Willow Risk Advisors as their professional liability insurance broker. Teaming up with The NORCAL Group, Willow Risk has developed an exclusive Medical Malpractice Insurance Program tailored specifically to serve interventional pain physicians. This new program will offer necessary benefits including risk management, premium discounts, consent to settle, aggressive claims handling and administrative defense. In this new partnership with Willow Risk Advisors, ASIPP's focus on risk management and patient safety will be further solidified. Included in the program is risk management CME activities. All ASIPP members will receive access to a mobile app that offers on-demand webcasts and articles. Not only will the program continue to uphold the original mission of ASIPP, but also further enhance the educational opportunities and mobility towards professional growth. "In the modern era of regulatory tsunami and exploding practice costs with declining reimbursement, the creation of an exclusive medical liability program for members of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) is one of the pivotal achievements of the organization," said Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, ASIPP chairman of the board and chief executive officer. "There are many important benefits of this program in addition to a savings on average of 15- to 40-percent, exclusively for ASIPP members, with an additional discount for ABIPP board certification (*ABIPP Certification discount pending approval). As many practices are now forced to undergo three and four audits a year, another benefit is the administrative defense coverage for audits. Coverage limits can be extended up to $1 million. "We are confident this program will propel the importance of ASIPP and the importance of ASIPP guidelines We're proud to offer this new program on the heels of another successful ASIPP program, the National Interventional Pain Management Qualified Clinical Data Registry (NIPM-QCDR) which saves physicians 9 percent in penalties, and provides outcomes for interventional techniques we perform daily."

November 15, 2018 by matray

November 13, 2018 by matray

ISMIE Mutual Insurance Co. has partnered with the Indiana Osteopathic Association (IOA) and the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA). Through the program, IOA and POMA members will receive access to ISMIE’s risk management program, discount credits and other benefits that come with ISMIE coverage. New physicians coming out of residency will also be eligible for special discounted coverage. “We are enthusiastic about entering into these new partnerships,” said ISMIE Chairman Paul H. DeHaan, MD. “We expect osteopaths will be drawn by our favorable pricing, but it’s our customer service, superior claims support and topnotch risk management program that will help ISMIE build loyalty with osteopaths.” ISMIE provides medical professional liability insurance, offering products that maximize protection and minimize worry. Founded by physicians in 1976, ISMIE remains physician-led. ISMIE Mutual is an admitted carrier in 11 states and the District of Columbia, and protects professionals and facilities in all 50 states through its subsidiary ISMIE Indemnity.

November 7, 2018 by matray

The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) today announced the new hire of Thomas Mortimer in the role of senior account executive, adding a depth of industry knowledge and experience to the CAP sales team. Mortimer will report to Daniel Cavanaugh, CAP vice president of membership development. 

A well-known figure in the medical malpractice coverage space, Mortimer is trusted by members of both the physician and insurance industries and brings considerable expertise to his new role. He served as assistant vice president of SCPIE from 1991 to 1995 before becoming vice president of the MMI Insurance Agency through 2000. Two years as sales director of St. Paul Global Health Care followed, before starting Thomas Mortimer Insurance Services, Inc. in 2002.

“Our mission at CAP is to provide an outstanding level of guidance and service to our members, and we’ve developed an exceptional team to fulfill that promise,” said Sarah Pacini, CAP chief executive officer. “Thomas Mortimer brings a wealth of knowledge to the CAP sales team, and has long been a trusted partner to both the physician and insurance industries.”

“Over the past 30 years, I’ve had the good fortune to work with talented, passionate individuals in both the insurance and health care industries,” said Mortimer. “My position at CAP offers a fantastic opportunity to pull from both skill sets to provide the highest level of guidance and care for CAP physicians, and by extension, countless patients.”

Mortimer entered his new role on November 1.  

November 6, 2018 by matray

ISMIE Mutual Insurance Co. announced Charles Bradley (Brad) Ash has joined the company’s management team as a senior vice president, reporting to Wayne de Nazarie, executive vice president.

Ash brings extensive experience within the medical liability insurance industry, most recently serving as chief executive officer of Aon Affinity Healthcare in Pennsylvania. Prior to that, he was a senior vice president with responsibilities including underwriting and business development for The Doctors Company, where he also served on its executive review and high exposure (claims) committees. In addition, Ash held positions at COPIC in Colorado for many years, working on operational and strategic initiatives, including geographic expansion and new product lines and platforms.

In his new position, Ash will have senior management oversight for ISMIE’s Sales and Underwriting Divisions.

“We are pleased to welcome Brad, an experienced medical liability insurance executive with a track record that supports all aspects of ISMIE’s continuing expansion throughout the United States,” said ISMIE chairman Paul H. DeHaan, MD. “Brad will play a central role in building new business opportunities and helping lead ISMIE’s strategic direction.”

Ash is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and earned an MBA from the University of Colorado. He holds the professional designations of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU).

November 2, 2018 by matray

ISMIE Mutual Insurance Co. announced that Ohio insurance regulators have granted the company admitted status, another important step in the leading medical professional liability carrier’s national expansion. With this recent development, ISMIE is able to offer Ohio physicians, health professionals and medical entities of all types wide-ranging medical liability coverage and access to its risk management products, cyber liability protection and claims services. “The Midwest is our home territory, and achieving admitted status in Ohio is a milestone for ISMIE,” said ISMIE chairman Paul H. DeHaan, MD. “Some of the world’s leading medical professionals practice medicine in Ohio. ISMIE supports innovators across the country with the best medical liability protection and risk management products available, and ISMIE is well known to Ohio distribution partners. We expect to grow many long-term partnerships in this market in the years to come.” With the addition of Ohio, ISMIE Mutual is now an admitted carrier in 11 states and the District of Columbia, and through its ISMIE Indemnity subsidiary protects professionals in all 50 states.