View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/11/08/223436.htm
IronHealth, the specialty healthcare unit of Ironshore Inc., is offering medical professional liability coverage for federally qualified health centers to provide protection for deemed and non-deemed healthcare services, as well as other coverage enhancements.
IronHealth’s Health Qualified Center Medical Professional Liability product is a wrap-around policy to protect against potential liability risk exposures for medical facilities that treat low- to moderate- income patients.
The Affordable Healthcare Act funds the development of community health centers to provide quality, primary medical services to low income, Medicaid and uninsured patients through Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
“Healthcare reform initiatives will provide funding for new community health centers, so we expect this segment of the market to grow considerably,” said Matt Dolan, president of IronHealth.
Community health centers undergo an annual application process to be federally qualified to receive grant monies to provide “deemed” medical services, such as wellness examinations, primary healthcare treatment, physicals, and obstetrical support, among others.
Qualified health centers and their employees are protected against medical malpractice actions under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) when offering approved, or deemed services. In 2010, more than 8,000 qualified health centers served 19.5 million patients, 93 percent of whom live below the poverty level.
The Health Qualified Center Medical Professional Liability product provides protection against general liability exposures, as well as any new medical services or activities offered by the institution, since its deeming application was approved. Private insurance is required to protect the institution against new medical services excluded from protection under the federal statute. Professional and general liability coverages are available for deemed and non-deemed medical services for primary and excess limits.
Separate policy limits can be underwritten for employed medical practitioners, volunteers and part-time dentists, with $25,000 sub-limit coverage available for personal injury protection reimbursement.