On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (fund) approved waiving the upcoming fiscal year’s premiums for physicians, CRNAs and hospitals enrolled in the fund.
The Society has been working hard to find ways to assist its membership during these unprecedented times. The premium holiday was originally requested by the Society and endorsed by the fund’s Actuarial and Underwriting and Finance/Investment/Audit committees before it was approved by the Board. The premium holiday will be in effect from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
“COVID-19 has posed unprecedented health and economic challenges to our state, and the health care industry is no exception,” said Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA, a Fund Board member and the CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society. “The premium holiday approved yesterday by the board will provide some financial relief to many of the Wisconsin medical professionals and providers who have been affected by the pandemic and who face ongoing challenges.”
This action will help those covered by the Fund who have experienced a significant decline in revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly physicians in solo and small group practices.
The Fund is an essential element in maintaining medical liability insurance premiums at a manageable rate for those covered by the Fund. The favorable medical liability environment in Wisconsin helps recruit physicians to Wisconsin and retain physicians in Wisconsin.
Full-time physicians will save between $382 and $2,521, depending on their specialty, with Residents saving $229 and part-time or retired physicians saving $95.
As of June 30, 2019, there were a total of 17,261 fund participants composed of 147 hospitals with 19 affiliated nursing homes, 15,003 physicians, 855 nurse anesthetists, 20 hospital-owned or controlled entities, 73 ambulatory surgery centers, 1 cooperative, 14 partnerships, and 1,129 corporations actively participating in the Fund. As of June 30, 2019, Fund participants consisted of 87 percent physicians, 6 percent corporations, and the remaining 7 percent included all other participants.
Additional details can be found in the Society’s update or the Fund’s press release.