Program Information for New York Psychiatrists

Q. I am moving to New York and have discovered that my current malpractice insurance carrier does not offer coverage there. Is the Psychiatrists' Program, the APA-endorsed Psychiatrists' Professional Liability Insurance Program, available in New York? If so, how do I apply for coverage?

A. Coverage through the Program is available in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Nationwide coverage is just one of the many benefits of participation in the Program. For more information, refer to the end of this column on how to contact PRMS.

By the way, if you decide to make another move in the near future, as a Program participant you will not have to transfer between insurance companies again as coverage through the Program is portable. If you are currently a participant in the Program and you are changing locations, call your underwriter at (800) 245-3333 prior to your move to update your policy (requirements may vary by state).

Q. I currently participate in the New York Medical Malpractice Insurance Program (the Excess Program). Will The Psychiatrists' Program be offering seminars to fulfill the risk management education requirement?

A. Yes, PRMS is planning to provide participants with complimentary risk management courses necessary to meet the regulatory course requirements for policy year 2004-05 for physicians participating in the Excess Program. Additionally, attending one of the seminars or taking the online risk management course will qualify you for the 5 percent premium credit in accordance with the New York State Department of Insurance regulations.

For those who don't live in New York, the Excess Program was established by the state of New York to provide certain physicians in the state with an additional layer of medical malpractice insurance coverage above the policy limits provided by primary malpractice coverage. Neither PRMS nor the primary medical malpractice company is directly involved with the Excess Program. However, PRMS, on behalf of the primary company, is required to offer a risk management program to those insureds who participate in the Excess Medical Malpractice Insurance Program, pursuant to New York Insurance Regulation 124, as amended.

Under New York State Insurance Regulation 124, physicians who participate in the New York Medical Malpractice Insurance Program (the Excess Program) must fulfill the following risk management education requirements in order to remain eligible for the Excess Program: a five-hour basic risk management course accompanied by a project that must be completed within 60 days of the course and an annual three-hour follow-up risk management course accompanied by a project that must be completed within 60 days. Here is the schedule of the next round of seminars:

This column is provided by PRMS, manager of the Psychiatrists' Program, for the benefit of members. More information about the Program is available by visiting its Web site at<www.psychprogram.com>; calling (800) 245-3333, ext. 389; or sending an e-mail to [email protected].▪