Claims Results: "We Didn't See That Coming!"
By Janet Jay
Sales and Service Representative
Physicians Insurance Agency
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Original Publish Date: April 08, 2014
Just as adverse events can happen in medicine, adverse business events can happen to practices and hospitals. These risks are often unpredictable and can be significant in both cost and the ability to provide continuing care for patients. The following examples depict different types of unanticipated events and the coverage that helped the physician and practice recover after the outcome.
EVENT: Storm caused power spike, crashing insured’s computer system
IMPACT: Clinic rendered nonoperational for 48 hours, employees unable to work or serve patients, data lost, and patient records lost
BENEFITS PROVIDED: Reimbursement for emergency IT services to restore clinic operations as soon as possible and data recovery services to restore lost patient records
PRACTICE TYPE: Primary care clinic of 75 employees
COVERAGE IN PLACE: Business Owners Policy with Equipment Breakdown
RESULT: $67,136 paid
EVENT: One of four physicians, in a physician-owned clinic, died in a fatal car accident
IMPACT: Remaining physicians needed to quickly put resources in place to provide overflow patient care, as well as consider how to act upon their buy-out agreement and legal next steps
BENEFITS PROVIDED: Tax-free financial policy payout to clinic that covered the buy-out of the widow’s inherited interest, costs associated with sourcing temporary support to help service patients, the expense of hiring a new partner, and associated legal fees
PRACTICE TYPE: Dermatology clinic
COVERAGE IN PLACE: Business Buyout Coverage
RESULT: $1 million paid
EVENT: Employee theft—bookkeeper stole funds for 9 months before being discovered
IMPACT: Loss of revenue and burden of investigating all prior accounting
BENEFITS PROVIDED: Forensic accounting services to determine scope of loss, reimbursement of lost funds, and assistance with recovery action against employee
PRACTICE TYPE: Palliative care center of 42 employees
COVERAGE IN PLACE: Business Owners Policy with Employee Dishonesty
RESULT: $32,785 paid
EVENT: Solo physician became temporarily disabled after a spinal cord injury
IMPACT: Physician was unable to see patients for 6 months
BENEFIT: Financial policy payout to clinic that covered business expenses to keep clinic running, including salary continuation to retain staff and the hire of a temporary physician to see patients
PRACTICE TYPE: Ophthalmology group with three employees
COVERAGE: Business Overhead Expense Insurance
RESULT: $60,000 paid over 4 months; clinic able to continue operating at 95% patient retention/revenue during physician’s absence
EVENT: Building’s hot water pipe burst at night
IMPACT: Extensive physical damage to multiple offices throughout building, affecting carpet, walls, furnishings, and office equipment; clinic was nonoperational and patients had to be directed to other clinics
BENEFITS PROVIDED: Reimbursement for emergency cleanup, repair, and reconstruction of damaged property; replacement of damaged assets; and reimbursement of lost revenue
PRACTICE TYPE: Obstetrics and gynecology clinic of 60 employees
COVERAGE IN PLACE: Business Owners Policy
RESULT: $132,025 paid
EVENT: RAC audit revealed an incorrect ICD code used repeatedly over several years’ time
IMPACT: Repayment demand of $627,000 and fines and penalties totaling $250,000
BENEFITS PROVIDED: Defense cost reimbursement and shadow audit to review findings
PRACTICE TYPE: Orthopedic surgery center of 18 physicians
COVERAGE IN PLACE: Billing Errors and Omissions Policy
RESULT: Fines and repayments were reduced to $250,000 total
EVENT: Vehicle drove through front of clinic and driver fled the scene
IMPACT: Extensive physical damage to front of medical office waiting area
BENEFITS PROVIDED: Reimbursement for cleanup, repair, and reconstruction of property; replacement of damaged furnishings
PRACTICE TYPE: Ophthalmology clinic of 27 employees
COVERAGE IN PLACE: Business Owners Policy
RESULT: $17,542 paid
For more information about the range of business insurance policies that can protect your clinic, contact Janet Jay with Physicians Insurance Agency at (800) 962-1399 or visit www.phyins.com.