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Malpractice Insurance
Pre-Health Professional Development (HLTH 3300)
The University of Texas at Dallas
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Malpractice Insurance ● @ clinical stage of med school (first time you hear about it); ○ They require you to have malpractice insurance and you have to pay it (student rate = $25-$30) ● When you get out and practice, apply for your own malpractice insurance ○ Not a choice ● There are very few of these companies, but they’re almost the same (only difference is really what kind of health professionals they cover, MD, PT, OT, etc.) ● When buying malpractice insurance, you call ‘em and ask for the provider application for the license Application ● Some possible questions are: ○ In the past 12 months, have you had a lawsuit for malpractice? (includes anything, very broad) ■ If you say yes, you have to explain. If no, continue to next one ○ Has your license been suspended, revoked, or (?_) by the board (status of license)? ○ Have you paid a fine due to license status proceeding (referring to DA)? ○ Have you willingly gave up your license (odd question) ○ Within the past 12 months, have you been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony (DUI, specific crime)? ○ Within the past 12 months, have you been accused of sexual misconduct or professional impropriety (not behaving in a professional manner)? ○ Within the past 12 months, have there been any complaints against you and informal or formal investigations against you? ● Don’t lie, bc they can call license board and check everything ○ If they find out that you lied, they won’t give you insurance ● If you have many DAs, they’ll see you as too risky and you’ll probably get sued all the time, so they won’t extend it to you ● If you don’t have malpractice insurance, you’ll be denied from every hospital, so it doesn’t matter if you have a license, you can’t practice ● A facility has insurance only for the facility it doesn’t cover any professional ● Professional association can direct you to malpractice insurance ● Get extensive coverage and research your options Items Covered ● Professional liability = malpractice insurance 1. Commercial general liability - only concerned for practice office or group practice (if there’s a fire, flood, etc., and you have equipment or furniture that you need to replace this is for you) a. You don’t need this if you work at a hospital
- Defense expense coverage - paying for an attorney who is representing you if you have a lawsuit a. Covers for the lawyer
- License board investigation coverage - @ the point where there is an investigation, and it’s being repeated and you have to get a lawyer a. This covers your expenses for travel and the use of expert witness (people who are first to do a procedure, knows what they’re talking about)
- Assault coverage - for when a patient attacks you
- Deposition expense coverage - if working in facility and you’re a witness for an event OR if you’re part of a group of professionals who are being sued. Then you have to travel and give your testimony and evidence a. Covers travel expenses and for when you have to leave work
- (fairly newer) HIPAA Fines and penalties - for fines levied to professionals that come from solely HIPAA lawsuits
● If you don’t pay premium, they’ll cancel it or if there are false statements ● Limits of liability: how much coverage you must have = what your employer tells you; you don’t have the choice to buy the cheapest option ○ Ex. $1,000,000/$5,000, ■ 1,000,000 = “per incident or lawsuit” or “per occurrence”; max. $ that policy pays to patient suing you for a single claim ■ 5,000,000 = “aggregate”; total $ that they pay out for one year ○ Can come in different levels (5,000,000/10,000,000) or (10,000,000/20,000,000) ● “Copy of the face sheet” = get the paper that says you pay and have malpractice insurance ● If you go to court, you have to pay more bc you’re more risky ● Evidence = patient documentation needs to be complete and correct bc it can be used in court against you ○ Can never alter your documentation (but you can amend it) ○ Advertising material → (you make content and had oversight) ○ Patient info: (in office) → pamphlets in waiting rooms about procedures and anything about guaranteed success ● If you are doing anything invasive, then you’ll have to pay more
Malpractice Insurance
Course: Pre-Health Professional Development (HLTH 3300)
University: The University of Texas at Dallas
