MPLC News

MPLC News All the latest news and press releases from the MPLC http://www.the-mplc.com Copyright 2008 - The Medical Professional Liability Company MPLC News 142 74 http://www.the-mplc.com http://www.the-mplc.com/images/logo.jpg 60 The MPLC Expands its Directors' & Officers' Liability Product Offering Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=21 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=21To expand the MPLC's scope and range of Management Liability business, The MPLC is delighted to announce the appointment of Nigel Brand as Senior Underwriter with immediate effect. Nigel has worked within the insurance industry for the last 25 years. For the past 17 years he has held a variety of senior positions underwriting Directors' and Officers' Liability, Professional Indemnity, Financial Institutions and Mergers & Acquisitions Insurance products with leading organisations. The MPLC is committed to offering value added products to clients, and following the appointment of Nigel, our ability to write D&O business has expanded to include the following client demographic: <ul> <li>UK and International mid to large corporations.</li> <li>UK and International small to large private companies.</li> <li>Healthcare Sector.</li> <li>Local Subsidiary Boards of major corporations.</li> <li>Financial Services Community mid market companies.</li> <li>Securities offering capability for certain segments. </li> </ul> Key points are: <ul> <li>World-Wide capability (excluding USA domiciled Assureds, although USA jurisdiction can be covered).</li> <li>GBP 10,000,000 or USD 10,000,000 or CAD 10,000,000 or EUR 10,000,000 any one Assured or GBP 10,000,000 currency equivalent in respect of all other currencies.</li> <li>100% Lloyd's Security.</li> <li>Professional with excellent response times.</li> <li>Clear and concise wordings.</li> <li>Fully compliant MRC quotes and policies issued by the MPLC.</li> <li>Professional claims handling processes</li> </ul> Underpinned by core beliefs of Integrity, Dedication and Expertise, MPLC's strong brand, well trained and motivated employees, first class systems and infrastructure will ensure all stakeholders continue to receive the superior customer service and attention to detail that has built the MPLC's reputation as a partner of choice. The MPLC Appoints New Director Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=20 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=20The MPLC is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Sawyer as a Director with effect from 1st Janurary 2009. Matthew joined The MPLC in 2003 and as a member of the Underwriting team has held a variety of positions, allowing him to develop a wealth of knowledge and experience in the highly specialised insurance class of Medical Malpractice. Matthew commented "I am delighted to be part of this professional and inspiring group of people. Since I joined the company I have been encouraged by all members of the team; this directorship, although challenging, is certainly an accolade, but is much more a recognition of the training and support I have received. I look forward to being able to repay this trust by making my own contribution to the growth and success of The MPLC." John Young, Managing Director stated: "Matthew has developed a deep understanding of Medical Malpractice issues and this coupled with his strong customer focus means The MPLC is now even better placed to differentiate itself through superior customer service and the offering of innovative and flexible underwriting solutions. Matthew has a growing reputation in the medical insurance world and we are delighted that he has agreed to join the Board of The MPLC" The MPLC Expands Office in London Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=17 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=17The MPLC is delighted to announce, that in order to further enhance the service offered to its brokers, it has expanded its London contact office to a branch office. With immediate effect, The MPLC will now be able to offer from its London office, daily face to face contact with a member of its highly experienced underwriting team. The Medical Professional Liability Company (MPLC) is one of the leading, independently owned providers of specialised liability insurance in the world. A strategy of differentiation through superior customer service and the provision of innovative and flexible underwriting solutions has justifiably earned The MPLC its reputation as a partner of choice for Medical Professional Liability insurance. To view the underwriter's rota for the coming week, please follow this link - <a href="underwriting_rota.php">http://www.the-mplc.com/underwriting_rota.php</a>. Alternatively, if you would prefer to book an appointment with one of our underwriters please contact Katie Brooke on +44 (0) 870 7358 460 John Young, Managing Director stated: "This represents another significant milestone in the evolution of The MPLC; it is excellent news for our brokers as it allows us to offer greater access to our underwriters in the traditional London way. This enhanced access will serve to complement our existing modus operandi from Gibraltar that has, and will continue, to provide the centre for our underwriting operations." The MPLC Appoints New Director Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=18 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=18The MPLC is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr John Hickey as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1st February 2008. John joins The MPLC following his retirement as Chief Executive of the Medical Protection Society Ltd (MPS) in 2007. A qualified medical practitioner, his career spans a twenty two year period in the medical indemnity industry in a variety of roles with MPS, including Commercial Director and Medical Director, before his appointment as Chief Executive in 2002. During his time at MPS he was responsible for service delivery in all its international operations as well as the UK, and he has a wide ranging knowledge of the industry in a large number of jurisdictions. John commented that he was "delighted to be asked by the Board to join The MPLC. I have known John Young for many years and I look forward to working with the excellent team that John has built at The MPLC." John Young, Managing Director stated: "John is highly respected by both the medical and insurance world and he has a wealth of international medical professional liability knowledge and expertise. We are delighted that John has decided to join the Board of The MPLC and we very much look forward to the combination of his enthusiasm and experience making a significant contribution to the continuing development of The MPLC" The MPLC Launches New Website Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=16 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=16The MPLC is delighted to announce the launch of its exciting new website. The website is informative, straightforward and couldn't be easier to navigate. Simply click on the options on the menu bar for your choice of page. Throughout the website, highlighted in blue, are links to useful and relevant websites where you can go for background and/or additional information. We hope you enjoy our fresh, new look and welcome any comments you may have. MPLC - New Directors and Officers (D&O) Facility Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=15 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=15The Medical Professional Liability Company ("The MPLC") is delighted to announce that it has arranged a new Directors and Officers facility with immediate effect. This facility is underwritten by certain Underwriters at Lloyd's and will enable The MPLC to enhance the underwriting and claims service we currently provide to our Insureds and producing brokers; this additional line of coverage should prove to be an attractive feature to our customers and their advisors in light of the increasing awareness of all industries, including the Healthcare sector, of claims made against individual Directors & Officers and also claims made against the corporate entity by employees in relation to employment issues. The key benefits of the facility are: <ul> <li>The ability to offer a broader range of cover.</li> <li>The continuity of The MPLC's superior customer service to producing brokers and Insureds.</li> <li>Over 30 years of specialist medical professional liability knowledge and expertise in the Healthcare sector.</li> <li> The financial security of a Lloyd's policy.</li> <li>The ability to offer cover up to a maximum of £10M (or other currency equivalent) any one Claim and £20M (or other currency equivalent) in the annual aggregate for D&O coverage, which would be in addition to the MPL/PL limits of indemnity currently available.</li> <li>A sensitive, efficient and professional approach in handling, negotiating and settling claims.</li> <li>Access to a 24/7 legal service which provides access to Kennedy's out-of- hours emergency telephone advice line allowing the Insured to obtain guidance on any medico-legal and D&O queries.</li> <li>Access to The MPLC's overseas panel of leading law firms in our Insureds' territories.</li> <li>Access by The MPLC Insureds and brokers to The MPLC / Kennedy's seminars. </li> </ul> Lloyd's Syndicate 4000 is to join the MPLC liability underwriting faility Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=14 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=14The Medical Professional Liability Company Ltd ("The MPLC") is delighted to announce the addition of Lloyd's Syndicate 4000 to its medical professional liability underwriting facility with effect from 1st April 2006. This facility is underwritten by certain Underwriters at Lloyd's and enables The MPLC to continue to offer a seamless underwriting and claims service to our clients and producing brokers We are pleased to advise that our current capacity will increase and we are able to: <ul> <li>Offer cover up to a maximum of £15M (or currency equivalent) any one Claim and £30M (or currency equivalent) in the annual aggregate.</li> </ul> The MPLC will continue to offer all existing benefits, which include: <ul> <li>Continuity of The MPLC's superior customer service to clients and Insureds.</li> <li>Over 30 years of specialist medical professional liability knowledge and expertise in the healthcare sector.</li> <li>The security of a Lloyd's policy.</li> <li>Ability to underwrite medical professional liability (and ancillary coverage) worldwide - excluding USA.</li> <li>A sensitive, efficient and professional approach in handling, negotiating and settling claims.</li> <li>Access to a 24/7 legal service which provides access to Kennedys out-of-hours emergency telephone advice line allowing the Insured to obtain guidance on any medico-legal queries.</li> <li>Access to The MPLC's overseas panel of leading law firms in our Insureds' territories.</li> <li>Access by The MPLC clients to The MPLC / Kennedys risk and claims management seminars. </li> </ul> The MPLC Appoints New Director Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=13 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=13The MPLC is delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Ellis as Finance Director and Anti Money Laundering Officer (AMLO) with effect from 1st February 2006. Steve joins The MPLC from Metroline plc bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained from a successful twenty year blue chip financial career. Steve advised that he was "delighted to be joining The MPLC at such an exciting time in its development." In addition, The MPLC is also pleased to announce that due to growing IT demands, Graham Matthews has been appointed as IT Director, a newly created position, where he will focus on The MPLC's strategic IT needs The MPLC Appoints New Director Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=12 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=12The MPLC is delighted to announce the appointment of Roland James as Director with effect from 1st July 2005. Roland joins The MPLC from the Beazley Syndicate bringing with him over 20 years of medical insurance knowledge, expertise and experience. UK - The MPLC moves office in the UK Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=11 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=11The MPLC is delighted to announce that due to expansion we will be moving our London contact office from suite 26 to suite 47 on the 4th floor of the Lloyd's building, with effect from Tuesday 31st May 2005. By moving to larger offices, our aim is to improve the quality of service and attention that our brokers and their clients currently receive. Please note that all postal, telephone and fax details remain unchanged. New Medical Professional Liability Underwriting Facility Mon, 08 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=10 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=10The Medical Professional Liability Company ("The MPLC") is pleased to announce that it has arranged a new medical professional liability underwriting facility with effect from 8th November 2004. This facility is underwritten by certain Underwriters at Lloyd's and will enable The MPLC to offer a seamless underwriting and claims service to our clients and producing brokers. The key benefits of the facility are: <ul> <li> Continuity of The MPLC's superior customer service to clients and Insureds.</li> <li>Over 30 years of specialist medical professional liability knowledge and expertise in the healthcare sector.</li> <li>The security of a Lloyd's policy.</li> <li>Ability to underwrite medical professional liability (and ancillary coverage) worldwide - excluding USA.</li> <li>Ability to offer cover up to a maximum £10M (US$10M, CA$10M or other currency equivalent) any one Claim and £20M (US$20M, CA$20M or other currency equivalent) in the annual aggregate.</li> <li>A sensitive, efficient and professional approach in handling, negotiating and settling claims.</li> <li>Access to a 24/7 legal service which provides access to Kennedy's out-of-hours emergency telephone advice line allowing the Insured to obtain guidance on any medico-legal queries.</li> <li>Access to The MPLC's overseas panel of leading law firms in our Insureds' territories.</li> <li>Access by The MPLC clients to The MPLC / Kennedy's risk and claims management seminars. </li> </ul> Australia - Policy changes as a result of the Australian Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003 ("MIA") Mon, 06 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=9 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=9EXEMPT ARRANGEMENT UNDER THE MEDICAL INDEMNITY (PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION AND PRODUCTS STANDARDS) ACT 2003 ("THE MIA") FOR EMPLOYED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS <ol> <li>MPLC is pleased to announce that, as a result of new regulations to the MIA, MPLC will extend the cover it provides for medical establishments to include certain employed doctors who previously did not have the benefit of cover.</li> <li>Under the MIA, a health care professional is an individual who provides health care and includes a medical practitioner and a registered health care professional. Medical indemnity cover to a health care professional must be provided by a general insurer or Lloyd's underwriter by a contract of insurance.</li> <li>Under the MIA, there are requirements to provide prescribed minimum cover and standards in medical indemnity cover provided to medical practitioners. The MIA states that the minimum cover and standards must be provided to a medical practitioner or a registered health professional prescribed by the regulations. The prescribed minimum cover and minimum standards under the MIA include A$5 million cover (for any single claim and in the aggregate for all claims in any one year), a requirement to make an offer of unlimited retroactive cover and to make an offer, in certain circumstances, of runoff cover.</li> <li>Under a new regulation to the MIA effective from 25 June 2004, medical indemnity cover provided to an employed medical practitioner of an insured which satisfies the criteria of paragraph 4(1)(h) of the Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Products Standards) Regulation 2003 is not subject to the MIA and does not have to provide the prescribed minimum cover and minimum standards. For the exemption to apply: <ol> <li>the medical practitioner must be employed by the insured medical establishment;</li> <li> there must be an "agreement or understanding" made between the employed medical practitioner and his or her insured employer before the medical indemnity policy incepts, is renewed or is endorsed to provide such cover;</li> <li> the agreement or understanding must include a term that medical indemnity cover is to be obtained from a general insurer or Lloyd's underwriter;</li> <li>the medical indemnity cover will provide indemnity for claims that may be made in relation to health care incidents to either or both of the employed medical practitioner and his or her insured employer; and </li> <li> the insurance providing such medical indemnity cover for employed medical practitioners must be made as a result of the agreement or understanding made between the employed medical practitioner and his or her insured employer. </li> </ol> </li> <li> Fundamental to the medical indemnity cover being provided to the employed medical practitioner being exempt from the MIA is that the agreement or understanding is made between the employed medical practitioner and his or her insured employee before the policy incepts, is renewed or is endorsed. </li> <li>MPLC will offer medical indemnity cover which includes cover to an employed medical practitioner where the medical indemnity cover to the employed medical practitioner is exempt from the requirement of the MIA as specified in regulation 4(1)(h). It is a matter for the insured to ensure the prescribed agreement or understanding is made between the insured and the employed medical practitioner.</li> <li>MPLC will now provide medical indemnity cover: <ol> <li> to a named insured establishment with cover for employed medical practitioners where the cover to the employee is exempt from the MIA, where, at the time of the proposal, the insured discloses that it employs medical practitioners, or </li> <li>to a named insured establishment without cover to employed medical practitioners where the named insurer by the proposal discloses that at that time it did not have any employed medical practitioner.</li> </ol> </li> <li>For existing polices, MPLC will consider an endorsement to policies to extend cover to employed medical practitioners, where the cover to such employees is exempt from the MIA under paragraph 4(1)(h) of the regulation.</li> <li> MPLC recommends, to ensure that insureds have in place the prescribed agreement or understanding to obtain the benefit of the extended cover now available, that each insured: <ul> <li> review existing employment agreements to ensure they are amended to include a provision that would satisfy the requirements of paragraph 4 (1)(h) of the regulation; </li> <li> where such employment agreements are not in use, prepare an agreement which would satisfy the requirements of the regulation, for signing by an employed medical practitioner and the insured, to provide evidence of and a record that the prescribed agreement or understanding has been made; </li> <li> ensure that presently employed and future employed medical practitioners either enter into an employment agreement or sign a document which satisfies the requirements of regulation 4(1)(h).</li> </ul> </li> </ol> Sources of Information: The regulations can be found at: <a href="http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/numrul/20/10196/top.htm">http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/numrul/20/10196/top.htm</a> For further assistance: Please contact Gibraltar Office: <a href="mailto:john.young@the-mplc.com">john.young@the-mplc.com</a> Gibraltar - The MPLC Gibraltar moves offices Mon, 10 May 2004 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=8 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=8Due to rapid expansion, The MPLC moved offices in May of this year. The relocation of new premises is an exciting time for The MPLC and enables us to provide a more efficient service to our clients. Australia - Policy changes as a result of the Australian Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003 ("MIA") Thu, 04 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=7 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=7The Australian Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003 ("MIA") is part of a package of legislation introduced by the Federal Government which included providing monetary assistance to members of United Medical Protection, monetary assistance to doctors for payment of professional indemnity insurance premiums and for payment of parts of large claims successfully made against doctors. The Federal Government, after consulting with medical defence organisations and doctors' representatives, introduced the MIA which came into effect on 1 July 2003. Medical indemnity cover to a health care professional must now be provided by a general insurer by a contract of insurance. Under the MIA a health care professional is an individual who provides health care (whether for reward or not and whether as an employee, as part of a business or on some other basis) and includes a medical practitioner and a registered health professional. The latter is an individual who practises a health care related vocation who must be registered, by law, to practise that vocation. Thus the requirement that medical indemnity cover be provided by a general insurer and by a contract of insurance applies in respect of cover to any person who provides "health care", not just a medical practitioner or those health care workers who must be registered. There is a requirement to provide prescribed minimum cover and standards which are confined to medical indemnity cover provided to medical practitioners. For the purpose of this requirement the MIA states that the minimum cover and standards be provided to a "health care professional" who is a medical practitioner or a registered health professional prescribed by the regulations. No regulation has been made to the MIA to prescribe a registered health professional. Thus at present medical indemnity cover to a health care professional must be by a general insurer by a contract of insurance. The insurance to a doctor must comply with the minimum cover and standards as prescribed by the MIA, but insurance to any other health care professional currently need not satisfy the minimum cover and standards of the MIA. The prescribed minimum cover and minimum standards for insured health care professionals under the MIA include $5 million cover (for any single claim and in the aggregate for all claims in any one year), unlimited retroactive cover and certain run-off cover. The MIA has the effect that cover provided to doctors must be in respect of all claims that may be made against the doctor. The cover is not confined to claims arising in the course of employment with an insured hospital. The MIA refers to claims being made during the period of insurance but does not limit the claims to incidents arising during the course of the doctor's employment with the insured hospital. If however there is another indemnity available, the policy will not respond: section 22(1A). The minimum cover and minimum standards prescribed by the legislation to be provided by insurers to health care professionals significantly exceeds the scope of traditional medical indemnity cover provided by insurers to employed doctors. The precise scope of the legislation remains uncertain. MPLC and other interested parties are currently in discussions with the Federal Government to clarify if the legislation was intended to apply to health care professionals who obtained insurance benefits from their employers' corporate insurance. It is hoped that a review of the legislation will lead to changes with the result that the usual cover previously provided by MPLC to hospitals and other health care institutions which indirectly provided cover to employed doctors and other health care professionals, can continue. Until the ambit of the effect of the legislation is clarified and any necessary amendments to the legislation are made, MPLC regrets that it is unable to provide medical indemnity cover which will give direct or indirect cover to employed or volunteer doctors or other health care professionals. MPLC is continuing to provide cover to medical institutions, both for new business and on renewal limited to institutions only. The cover provided to institutions includes the vicarious liability of its employees. Our service standards will remain at the highest level while the MIA requirements are resolved. We look forward to discussing further the terms on which we are able to provide cover which best suits the needs of our clients. Sources of Information: <ol> <li> The MIA can be read at <a href="http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/cgi-bin/download.pl?/scale/data/pasteact/3/3584">http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/cgi-bin/download.pl?/scale/data/pasteact/3/3584</a>.</li> <li>Access the website of the Australian Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Minister for Revenue and the Assistant Treasurer at <a href="http://assistant.treasurer.gov.au/atr/content/speeches/2004/002.asp">http://assistant.treasurer.gov.au/atr/content/speeches/2004/002.asp</a></li> </ol> For further assistance: Please contact: <ol> <li>Your broker</li> <li>The MPLC - <a href="mailto:john.young@the-mplc.com">john.young@the-mplc.com</a></li> </ol> UK - The MPLC opens office in the UK Sat, 01 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=6 http://www.the-mplc.com/news_details.php?newsarticle=6The MPLC is delighted to announce the opening of a contact office in London with effect from 1st November 2003. The decision to open an office in London was one that was due, in part, to the success of the opening of our Australian office. From the feedback we received from brokers and their clients, it became increasingly evident that they found local contact offices a valued asset. As The MPLC grows, we understand the need for local presence in the UK and hope that by introducing an office based in London, we will be able to improve the quality of service and attention that our brokers and their clients currently receive. The London office will be manned by Doug Walker (our National Business Development Manager).