Trust & Service
The ISMIE dIfference ISMIE mutual 2009 Annual Report
Table of
C o n t e n ts
Message from the Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Underwriting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Risk Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Supreme Court Overturns Medical Litigation Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ISMIE Mutual Resource Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ISMIE Mutual’s Financials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ISMIE Mutual Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
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Message from the
chairman
“You can rest easy knowing that ISMIE Mutual is always behind you, protecting you.”
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
Dear Colleagues: ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company is the medical liability carrier you can trust. We work hard to protect you and your practice every day. We take that responsibility seriously and will always be here for you, our policyholders, as your partner and advocate. We are proud of our reputation as a physician-owned and governed company that provides the very best in service to those we insure. For over 30 years we have continuously insured all specialties throughout Illinois in good times and bad. At ISMIE Mutual, policyholders trust that we are in the Illinois market to stay. This year’s annual report summarizes ISMIE Mutual’s accomplishments in 2009. Within the report you will find information encompassing all aspects of your company and our commitment to policyholders. In 2010 we look forward to continuing to provide you with our unparalleled Physician-First Service. You can rest easy knowing that ISMIE Mutual is always behind you, protecting you and your practice. Thank you for your trust in the coming year. We will continue to prove it is well placed. Trust and Service are the ISMIE Difference. Sincerely,
Harold L. Jensen, MD Chairman, Board of Directors ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
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Trust in ISMIE’s
U n d e r w riti n g
As the premier provider of professional liability insurance to Illinois physicians since 1976, ISMIE Mutual offers products that maximize protection and minimize worry. Our goal is to provide you with insurance protection that meets your needs every day. That’s why ISMIE Mutual’s underwriting team partners diligently with our policyholders to ensure you have appropriate liability insurance to protect you and your practice. Our experience, gained over more than 30 years in Illinois, gives us expertise in 10 territories and 23 groupings of specialties. That means we provide coverages and set rates according to your unique practice needs – your specialty, your procedures, your location and your underwriting profile.
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
ISMIE Mutual began offering coverage in 1976, to meet the specific needs of physicians and their practices. That core focus remains the same today. We offer flexible coverage solutions for your changing practice, and tailor-made policies are also available. Trust in ISMIE Mutual for thorough, solid protection. With our sound underwriting principles and expertise we will make sure your coverage meets your professional liability needs. In 2009, ISMIE Mutual maintained the same base rates for 2009-2010 with no base rate increase for policyholders renewing on or after Oct. 1, 2009. We continued to offer our premium financing plan so policyholders had payment flexibility if desired.
To p fi v e I l li n o is i n s u r er s (2008, latest figures available at press time)
55.3%
ISMIE Mutual AP Capital Group Berkshire Hathaway American International Group, Inc ProAssurance Group Individual companies that hold less than 3.2% of the Illinois market
28% 3.2% 3.8%
4.5%
5.2%
Source: A .M. Best’s Data Services, Best’s State/Line Report – Property/Casualty – US
We also streamlined our web site and now offer all of your policy documents and information in one easyto-access section online – your MyISMIE page. Log on to www.ismie.com for access to your policy summary, billing information, loss history letter and more.
Year after year, ISMIE Mutual continues to look for ways to better serve you. Trust in ISMIE Mutual, where our physician policyholders always come first.
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
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More Risk Management
S ucc e ss e s
Premier Partners will learn the skills and techniques needed to manage everyday liability risk and be able to demonstrate the application of those skills.
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
2009 was another successful year for ISMIE Mutual policyholders who participated in our Managing Risk – Risk Rewards program. Their participation provided them with the tools needed to effectively manage liability risk while earning premium discounts and continuing medical education credits. The number of Risk Rewards activities completed in 2009 was impressive: »» Nearly 7,000 policyholders participated in nearly 167,000 activities »» About 1,800 policyholders completed practice assessments »» More than 375 policyholders completed our Fellowship and Fellowship Continuing Recognition (CR) Programs As part of ISMIE Mutual’s continued dedication to partnering with you, our policyholder, to help minimize the risk of medical liability, we developed an innovative risk management program. New for 2010, ISMIE’s Managing Risk Partnership Program is built on our Managing Risk experience from the past five years. It provides policyholders proven ways to further minimize liability risk while also earning premium discounts. This exciting new program gives you increased flexibility to become either a Managing Risk Premier Partner or a Managing Risk Partner. Premier Partners will learn the skills and techniques needed to manage everyday liability risk and be able to demonstrate the application of those skills. Partners may sample a variety of our Risk Rewards coursework – either in person or online – to get the tools and practical advice needed to protect their practices from a liability lawsuit. Simple. Efficient. Effective. ISMIE Mutual believes this partnership provides a superior way to protect against medical liability claims and earn your Risk Rewards discounts. As always, all Managing Risk courses are offered at no charge to all active policyholders – and in most cases these courses also offer AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. ISMIE Mutual will continue to look at innovative ways to work together to minimize the risk of medical liability. The new Managing Risk Partnership Program is just one example of how ISMIE policyholders have more opportunities than ever to manage their risk while running their practices. Trust ISMIE Mutual - where service is our specialty.
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Physician-First
C l a ims S e r v ic e
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
Although experiencing a claim may be daunting, ISMIE Mutual is here to assist you in every way possible. As your partner in the litigation process, your ISMIE Mutual defense team is dedicated to providing you with our hallmark Physician-First Service to help make an unpleasant situation less difficult. At ISMIE Mutual we understand that a medical liability claim is stressful, but rest assured that we work diligently to defend your skills, your integrity and your good name. Our policyholders can be confident that ISMIE Mutual will vigorously pursue an aggressive claim strategy. In 2009, ISMIE Mutual enjoyed a favorable percentage of defense wins on behalf of our policyholders and took 131 cases to trial.
Av er ag e I n d e m n ity P e r Paid Cl aim $700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 0
It is important for us to know that we are meeting your needs during the claims process. That is why we ask policyholders facing liability claims to rate their satisfaction with us, through our claims monitoring surveys. Last year policyholders measured their satisfaction with ISMIE Mutual’s claims service slightly higher than the prior year, rating our Physician-First Service at 9.4 out of a possible high score of 10. This demonstrates the success of our Physician-First Service approach with our policyholders when they need us most. Regardless of outcome, physicians who experience a trial overwhelmingly rate our claims service as outstanding. ISMIE Mutual will continue to provide our policyholders with exceptional claims service. You can trust that at ISMIE Mutual, you always come first.
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Supreme Court Overturns
M e dic a l L itig ati o n R e f o rm
Illinois’ meaningful medical litigation reform bill was passed in 2005 and quickly challenged. On Nov. 13, 2007, the law was deemed unconstitutional by a circuit court judge. ISMIE Mutual and the Illinois State Medical Society appealed the ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court, on behalf of Illinois physicians and patients. On Feb. 4, 2010, the Illinois Supreme Court undid the will of millions of people and overturned the state’s medical litigation reform law. The court did so even though the last five years have proven that
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
meaningful litigation reforms work and have been working in Illinois. ISMIE Mutual strongly disagrees with the ruling. It has joined Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in petitioning the Illinois Supreme Court for a rehearing. The petition states that the court had misinterpreted a previous Illinois Supreme Court decision that upheld the state legislature’s ability to change common law damages in alienation of affections cases. Therefore
“We’ve been down this path before and will actively continue the fight for fairness in Illinois courts.” Harold L. Jensen, MD Chairman, Board of Directors ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company
the 2005 medical litigation reform bill was not an unconstitutional infringement of the doctrine requiring separation of powers between the legislature and judiciary. “Since passage of the Illinois reform law, patient access to health care has expanded, frivolous lawsuits have ebbed and insurance rates have leveled off or decreased for many doctors. This is practical proof that the law is working,” said Harold L. Jensen,
MD, ISMIE Mutual chairman. “We vehemently disagree with the court’s decision and are extremely disappointed. We’ve been down this path before and will actively continue the fight for fairness in Illinois courts.” Rest assured that ISMIE Mutual is committed to stay in this fight for you and your patients.
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ISMIE Mutual
G e n e r a l R e s o urc e s
ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company 20 North Michigan Ave., Suite 700 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Phone: 312-782-2749 Toll free: 800-782-4767 Fax: 312-782-2023 E-mail: info@ismie.com
ISMIE Mutual Regional Office
Frequently asked questions
600 South 2nd Street Springfield, Illinois 62704
Policyholders may access answers to frequently asked questions in these categories at www.ismie.com:
Phone: 217-528-3750
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»» General policyholder information »» A.M. Best
Toll free: 800-545-7876
»» Dividend program
Fax: 217-525-3923
»» ISMIE’s relationship with brokers
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
»» Risk management-specific questions
Physician advocacy
Username and password assistance
Reality Medicine: Keeping Doctors in Illinois www. realitymedicine.com
E-mail: onlinehelp@ismie.com Toll free: 888-476-7776
Publication archive At ismie.com you’ll find current and back issues of: »» Annual reports »» ISMIE-news »» Mutual Interests
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
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ISMIE Mutual
u n d e r w riti n g R e s o urc e s
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
For assistance with or questions about: »» Applications and procedures »» MyISMIE »» Physician Review and Evaluation Panel (PREP) »» Premium financing »» Rates, billing, coverage, policy cancellations, suspensions or locum tenens Web: www.ismie.com E-mail: underwriting@ismie.com Phone: 800-782-4767, ext. 3350 Fax: 312-782-2023
MyISMIE is your online policy information center. Quickly access policy and billing summaries and loss history online. Promptly report your practice changes: Ensure that your professional liability coverage is adequate and up-to-date by notifying ISMIE’s Underwriting Division of any changes in your practice activity. To report practice changes: Download a Change Request Form at http://www.ismie.com/coverages/Forms_Apps/change_request.pdf Complete the form and fax to 312-782-2023. Questions? Call 800-782-4767 or e-mail underwriting@ismie.com.
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ISMIE Mutual
ris k m a n ag e m e n t R e s o urc e s For assistance with or questions about: »» Managing Risk Partnership Program »» MyRewards »» Current online courses and live seminars Web: www.ismie.com E-mail: riskmanagement@ismie.com Phone: 800-782-4767, ext. 3300 Fax: 312-782-2023 Using the above contact information, you may also: »» Inquire about risk management committees and subcommittees »» Request a copy of the latest Risk Rewards Resource Guide
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
ISMIE Mutual
C l a im S e r v ic e s R e s o urc e s
For assistance with or questions about: »» Claims monitoring surveys »» Defendant reimbursement coverage »» Federal and state reporting »» Legal concerns »» MyISMIE »» Physician Review Committee (PRC) »» Policy definitions and types of claims »» Reporting of incidents, claims or suits Web: www.ismie.com E-mail with questions: claims-services@ismie.com E-mail to report a claim or investigation: claimreports@ismie.com Phone: 800-782-4767 Fax: 312-782-2023
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Trust ISMIE Mutual’s
str o n g F i n a n ci a ls ISMIE Mutual’s focus on sound financial management continued in 2009. This approach ensures the company’s stability so that it will always be here for its policyholders. You can trust in ISMIE Mutual’s strong financial future.
O p er atin g e x pe n s e s ISMIE Mutual’s conservative approach to management and operations is reflected in overall operating expenses. 46.6%
34.6%
1.9%
6.6%
10.3%
I n v est e d a sse ts The majority of our investments are in high quality, fixed income securities (bonds). This demonstrates that ISMIE Mutual’s premium rates do not follow the financial markets.
86.3%
2%
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3.9%
7.8%
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
Admi n istr ati v e e x p e ns e rati o Compared to Industry Peer Companies (2008, latest figures available at press time)
Source: A.M. Best’s Aggregates & Averages, Property/Casualty – US and Canada
At ISMIE Mutual, our policyholders trust in a strong financial future.
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
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ISMIE Mutual Board of Directors
2 0 0 9 - 2 01 0 Harold L. Jensen, MD, – Chairman
Joan E. Cummings, MD, – Vice Chairman
Walter W. Whisler, MD, – Secretary-Treasurer
Proctor R. Anderson, MD Alejandro Aparicio, MD Craig A. Backs, MD Dennis M. Brown, MD Peter A. Brusca, MD Edward J. Fesco, MD Richard A. Geline, MD Henri S. Havdal a, MD Jane L. Jackman, MD Tim C. Kisabeth, MD William E. Kobler, MD James L. Mil am, MD Robert J. Oliver, MD Sandra F. Olson, MD Wayne V. Polek, MD Richard L. Sperling, MD Merita R.C. Tan, MD
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2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
2009 ISMIE Mutual Annual Report
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ISMIE mutual 20 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 700 Chicago, IL 60602 Toll-free
800-782-4767
Telephone
312-782-2749
www.ismie.com