Ohio Department of Insurance Director Lee Covington presents to the AMC/NOMA board of directors on MCAP

   Mr. Lee Covington, the Directors of the Ohio Department of Insurance, met with the AMC/NOMA board of directors on September 5, 2002.  Director Covington talked about the current state of the medical liability insurance market, the issue of insurance company investments and rate increases, and the Medical Coverage Assistance Program (MCAP)  MCAP is designed to assist medical providers in obtaining medical malpractice liability insurance coverage and alleviate coverage availability problems in Ohio.

   Director Covington indicated that the MCAP program would assist providers in locating potential insurers.  He stated that while this voluntary program cannot guarantee coverage, we hope that this program will allow physicians to quickly find coverage in the current market so they can focus on offering quality medical care to Ohio citizens.

   The MCAP application is available on the department's website at www.ohioinsurance.gov and can be submitted to the department by a licensed agent or broker. Any Ohio physician unable to obtain coverage through one or more medical malpractice carriers is eligible for assistance from MCAP.

An executive committee, made up of representatives of commercial insurers authorized to write medical malpractice insurance in Ohio and insurance agents licensed to sell medical malpractice insurance in Ohio, will review applications. After that review, the executive committee may choose to remarket the provider to the physician's present underwriter, try to garner coverage from other admitted markets, or try to gain coverage through the excess and surplus lines market.

ODI has also sent a memorandum requesting that all medical malpractice insurers:

* Give at least 60 days notice when non-renewing a commercial policy (current law requires only a 30-day notice).

* Notify policyholders of premium increases at least 60 days prior to renewal.

* Provide the Department of Insurance notice 60 days prior to withdrawing from the medical malpractice market, declining to write specific specialties, or declining to write in specific geographic areas.

   Physicians interested in utilizing MCAP to seek for coverage options should contact their agent or broker.  Others seeking more information about the MCAP program or other medical malpractice initiatives can visit the Department website at www.ohioinsurance.gov.