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The APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program is now available to APA members in Puerto Rico.
The new plan was announced last month to members of the Puerto Rico Psychiatric Society by Alan Levenson, M.D., president and CEO of Psychiatrists' Purchasing Group (PPG), which operates the APA-sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program. Levenson; Ellen Fischbein, M.D., a PPG board member; and senior staff of the program's manager, Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS), met with APA members in Puerto Rico at the invitation of APA President-elect Rodrigo Muņoz, M.D., and district branch President Ramon Parrilla, M.D.
The program has been limited in its ability to serve members in Puerto Rico because of restrictions imposed by federal law. Responding to requests from APA members in Puerto Rico and PPG, PRMS and the program's carriers (Legion Insurance Company and Transatlantic Insurance Company) agreed to offer a separate program of professional liability insurance coverage there.
The new coverage is specifically designed to meet the needs of psychiatrists practicing in Puerto Rico. For example, the policy form is the one used by other carriers there. At the same time, APA members insured under the new program have equal access to all the services-risk management, claims management, and customer service-that are associated with the APA-sponsored coverage.
"We are very pleased with the new coverage under the APA program," said Parrilla, the district branch president, in a telephone interview. "We are particularly pleased that the plan has been designed to meet our needs and that it is superior to the policy that many psychiatrists in Puerto Rico now have. It is an occurrence policy with liability limits of $200,000/$600,000."
(An occurrence policy provides coverage for claims made against an insured regardless of when the claim occurred as long as the policy was in force at the time the alleged malpractice occurred. A claims made policy covers only those claims that both occur and are reported during that policy period.)
Parrilla noted that another feature of the APA-sponsored program is the involvement of the insured psychiatrist in settlement decisions. Many liability insurance companies today settle malpractice suits without the physician's agreement.
Commented Muņoz, "This again shows that APA can transcend state laws and federal regulations in order to provide the best services to our members. The liability insurance in Puerto Rico represents a clear triumph for the APA Insurance endeavors."
Levenson stated, "As the largest provider of professional liability insurance coverage in the nation, we are committed to making coverage available to as many APA members as possible. This new coverage for APA members in Puerto Rico extends the program beyond the 50 states and the District of Columbia. We are delighted to be of service to our colleagues in Puerto Rico and to be able to work closely with the Puerto Rico Psychiatric Society."
Parrilla credited the availability of APA-sponsored malpractice insurance to the determined efforts of former district branch president Victor Llado, M.D. He lobbied hard to get a product that meets the needs of psychiatrists practicing in Puerto Rico, said Parrilla.
PRMS reports that applications for the new coverage are already coming in. APA members in Puerto Rico who would like more information should call (800) 245-3333, ext. 389; e-mail: theprogram@apa-plip.com. Information is also available at PRMS's Web site at www.apa-plip.com.