PHYSICIANS, SURGEONS AND DENTISTS

CME Accreditation

MLMIC is accredited by MSSNY to provide CME for physicians. MLMIC utilizes conventional formats and new technologies, including an Internet-based format, to provide and deliver its CME programs. Satisfactory completion of these CME courses allows physicians to earn AMA PRA Category I credits™, the applicable premium credit, as well as qualify for participation in the medical malpractice excess insurance program. MLMIC may also require hospital employed physicians and/or residents to attend these programs.

MLMIC also encourages its insured physicians to invite members of their office staff, including physician extenders, to attend these risk management programs. Attendance certificates are provided, upon request, to non-physician participants who complete these courses.

There is no fee for MLMIC policyholders or their employees who wish to participate in these programs. Non-MLMIC insured physicians who are interested in attending a course should contact MLMIC for additional information.

Risk Management CME Programs

5% Premium Credit

Satisfactory completion of the risk management courses offered pursuant to New York State Insurance Department Regulation 124 will provide participating physicians [who are not active in the Company’s Voluntary Attending Physician (VAP) or Upstate Professional Liability Association (UPLA) Programs] with a 5% credit on their malpractice insurance premium for two consecutive policy periods. The premium credit will be effective in the policy period following the one in which the physician completes the course.

Voluntary Attending Physician (VAP) Program

Satisfactory completion of the VAP risk management course will enable physicians participating in the VAP Program to maintain the 12% premium discount for two consecutive policy periods. Further, the discount is contingent upon the physician having his/her primary affiliation with a hospital insured by MLMIC.

Upstate Professional Liability Association (UPLA) Program

Satisfactory completion of the Regulation 124 risk management course will enable physicians participating in the UPLA Program, to maintain the 12% premium discount for two consecutive policy periods. The discount will be effective in the policy period following the one in which the physician completes the course.

Excess Medical Malpractice Program

Pursuant to New York State Insurance Department Regulation 124 , in order to remain eligible for participation in the medical malpractice excess insurance program, hospital affiliated physicians and dentists must complete an excess medical malpractice risk management course every two years. MLMIC has designed its 5% premium credit, VAP, and UPLA risk management programs so that its insured physicians and dentists can satisfy both requirements by completing these courses.

Internet-Based Risk Management Program

Please click this link to register online for an Internet-based risk management course.

Risk Management Educational Programs

Premium Discount Program

MLMIC insured dentists who successfully complete an approved risk management program will receive a 10% premium discount for three successive policy periods. MLMIC currently approves the New York State Dental Association’s (NYSDA’s) risk management course. To register for the online course, click www.dentalearning.org. To view the schedule and register for live courses in your area, click www.nysda.com or call (800)255-2100.

Excess Medical Malpractice Program

Pursuant to New York State Insurance Department Regulation 124, hospital affiliated dentists and physicians must complete a qualified risk management program every two years, in order to remain eligible for participation in the medical malpractice excess insurance program. MLMIC insured dentists who satisfactorily complete MLMIC’s Regulation 124 risk management program will be eligible to participate in the excess insurance program.

MLMIC is sanctioned by NYSDA as an approved provider of continuing dental education in New York State. Additionally, dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants who complete MLMIC’s courses will earn 1 continuing education lecture credit for every hour of course time.

Internet-Based Risk Management Program (Excess Insurance Program Only)

Please click this link to register online for an Internet-based risk management program. If you have any questions about MLMIC’s Risk Management courses, please contact the Risk Management Department

Consulting Staff

MLMIC’s Risk Management Consultants are professionals with diverse experience in the healthcare industry who are skilled in loss prevention. The Risk Management Consultants operate regionally and provide services to our physician and dental policyholders throughout New York State. For risk management telephone assistance, physicians and dentists should call the MLMIC office nearest to their practice.

• New York City (800) 275-6564
• Long Island (877) 777-3560
• Syracuse (800) 356-4056
• Latham (800) 635-0666

Medical Office Practice Surveys

This facet of the risk management program is specifically designed for the private medical office practice. The objective of the appraisal is to improve patient care and reduce claims that arise in the private office setting.

An on-site review and evaluation of individual office practices is conducted by our Risk Management Consultants, with an assessment of our insured’s office policies, procedures, and practices. Some of the office procedures and forms that may be reviewed include informed consent/consent forms, medical record documentation, physician/patient relations, follow-up of referrals and consultations, and professional staff credentialing. Recommendations for improvement of the practice are provided to the physician upon completion of the survey.

Policyholders may access a variety of legal services provided by Fager & Amsler, counsel to MLMIC. Fager & Amsler attorneys are located in our Long Island, Latham, and Syracuse offices. The firm’s experienced attorneys specialize in healthcare law, including professional liability issues, medical malpractice defense litigation, and regulatory compliance, and have broad experience analyzing significant scientific, technical, and regulatory information relating to the health professions. They also conduct legal audits and assessments of areas of medical practice that require focused review. The attorneys monitor current statutes, regulations, and case law and keep our insureds apprised when there is an impact on potential liability. They are available to serve as featured speakers at medical and dental society member programs. Fager & Amsler also provides MLMIC insured physicians with a selection of legal forms and documents for use in their practice.

Fager & Amsler attorneys are available during regular business hours and can be reached at the following telephone numbers:

• Long Island (516) 794-7340
• Syracuse (315) 428-1380
• Latham (518) 786-2881

MLMIC’s Risk Management Library is a valuable educational resource for our policyholders, with thousands of policyholders having borrowed from our extensive collection of risk management, patient safety, and quality improvement titles. All of the titles in our collection relate specifically to initiating, reviewing, maintaining, and improving the delivery of quality healthcare. Our library collection consists of over 2,000 books and audiovisuals, and is regularly reviewed and updated to maintain a high standard of quality resources.

MLMIC policyholders can borrow from the library and utilize its research services (library searches, literature searches and cyber-searches) on a complimentary basis. Orders can be placed by using MLMIC’s Risk Management Library Guide, which contains an up-to-date listing of all available resources, or by visiting Library Online.

Questions concerning the lending library should be directed to Judith Kroft, Library Services Administrator, at jkroft@mlmic.com.

MLMIC produces and distributes collateral materials that pertain to current health, legal, risk management, and insurance issues. This information is provided to policyholders to keep them apprised of current news and information. The following publications are available at no cost to policyholders:

Dateline

MLMIC’s newsletter (published twice a year, in the spring and fall)

The Anatomy of a Lawsuit

What doctors need to know if they are involved in malpractice litigation

Runaway Jury Verdicts

Pamphlet for doctors regarding vulnerability of personal assets

Office Staff Handbook

A risk management guide for office staff concerning office procedures

A Doctor’s Self-Assessment Checklist

A risk management guide to office procedures

Telephone Message Pads

Pads with tear-off sheets for recording patient phone calls

A Closer Look at Coverage Forms - Claims Made vs. Occurrence - Physicians

A Closer Look at Coverage Forms - Claims Made vs. Occurrence - Dentists

A Glossary of Common Insurance & Legal Terms

Frequently Asked Questions - Physicians

Frequently Asked Questions - Dentists

Physicians Insurers Association of America (PIAA) Studies: Identified areas of liability based on national studies

• Acute Myocardial Infarction Study
• Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Prevention: A Risk Management Guide for Practitioners
• Breast Cancer Study
• Laparoscopic Procedure Study
• Lung Cancer Study
• Medication Errors Study
• Neurology Claims

To order any of these publications, please contact Shirley Connell, Policyholder Services, at sconnell@mlmic.com.

Sample Consent Forms, Form Letters and Legal Memos, Bulletins and Guidelines

• OMH Authorization Form: Office of Mental Health Authorization for Release of Information
• MLMIC Consent: MLMIC Informed Consent Form
• MLMIC Consent: Administration of Anesthesia Consent Form
• Authorization for Patient Interview
• Authorization for Patient Photograph
• OCA Authorization: HIPAA Compliant Authorization
• Authorization Defective Form: Form Letter for Authorizations that are not HIPAA Compliant
• DOH Denial of Access: Denial of Access to Medical Records
• DOH form Consent for HIV Testing: Informed Consent to Perform HIV Testing
• DOH Authorization to Release: HIPAA Complaint Authorization for Release of Records HIV Authorization for Release of Medical Information and HIV Information