Toxic Tail: Toxic Tail: Strategies for Managing Old Exposures When Purchasing New Practices Cayman Captive Forum ASHRM/IMAC Reciprocal Session 2:00pm –

Toxic Tail: Toxic Tail: Strategies for Managing Old Exposures When Purchasing New Practices

Cayman Captive ForumASHRM/IMAC Reciprocal Session

2:00pm – 2:55pmDecember 4, 2013

We have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose

Mary Anne Hilliard, Children’s National, Washington DC Larry Smith, MedStar Health

Disclosure

I would like to disclose the following relationship(s):

Mike Poe, Towers Watson            Actuary

I have agreed to present the material in a fair and unbiased manner. 

Disclosure

Introductions: Mary Anne Hilliard, Children’s National, Washington DC Larry Smith, MedStar Health Mike Poe, Towers Watson

Topics: What are the risk financing options? What are the risks and issues around “prior acts”

exposures? How do we address or manage these?

Introduction of Speakers/Panel & Topics

Health care reform has and will continue to require alignment with physicians:Bundled paymentsQualityPatient care delivery model – medical home Increase in employmentStrong affiliations where employment not allowed

The issues and costs of the “prior acts coverage” for physicians can be significant

Issues arise because of the predominance of claims made coverage

Background

Increase in Physician Employment 2013 Aon Benchmark

Surgeons per100 Acute Care Beds

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Physicians (Non-Surgeons)per 100 Acute Care Beds

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Average Distribution of Specialties(Non University)

Anesthesiology

Pediatrics

General Surgery

All Other Surgeons

Emergency Medicine

OB/GYN Surgery

Internal Med / FamPractice / HospitalistOther Non-SurgicalSpecialties

Non-University hospital systems are increasingly employing physicians, and employing surgeons faster than other specialties. Hospitalists are the fastest growing specialty at community hospitals.

2013 Aon Benchmark Study

Our study found that a majority of hospitals systems self-insure the primary layer of coverage for their employed physicians.

Bringing the physicians into the risk financing program does appear to have cost savings compared to leaving them in the commercial market due to joint defense and reducing frictional costs.

Employed Physicians and Cost Savings

Employed Physician Loss Rates

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

$18,000

$20,000

2007 2008 2009 2010Accident Year

Employed Physician

Class 1 CommercialPremium (40%Discount)

Class 1 CommercialPremium (Manual)

How Employed Physicians are Insured for Primary Layer Coverage

73%

3%

24%

Self-insured

Commercially Insured

Combination of self-insurance and commecialcoverage

2013 Aon Benchmark Study

The overwhelming majority of programs provide claims made coverage for employed

physicians

Rarely do hospital systems provide prior Acts coverage to employed physicians, however,

a majority are providing Tail coverage.

Potential exists to have multiple arrangements with physicians as these benefits are

typically negotiated. Can be administratively burdensome and lead to underfunding if

promised benefits are not accurately tracked.

Employed Physicians Claims Made Considerations – Prior Acts and Tail Coverage

To Be Updated

Provide Prior Acts Coverage toEmployed Physicians?

7%

29%

64%

Yes, in many or allinstances

Yes, but only inselected instances

Never

Provide Tail Liability Coverage toEmployed Physicians?

86%

4%10%

Yes, in many or allinstances

Yes, but only inselected instances

Never

2013 Aon Benchmark Study2013 Aon 2013 Aon Benchmark Study

The hospital assumes the prior acts exposure in their captive or self insurance program

Physician buys a tail policy from the current commercial insurer

Hospital funds the purchase of the “prior acts” for the physician

Hospital partners with commercial insurer to provide “prior acts coverage” for the physician upon employment

What are the Risk Financing Options?

In addressing each of the options, our panel will focus on the issues of Exposures, Risk Management, Claims, and

Financing

What Are The Exposures, Risk Management, Claims, Financing Issues And Implications

When The Health Care System Assumes The Prior Acts Exposure In Its Captive Or Self

Insurance Program?

Panel Discussion

ALTERNATIVE # 1

Exposures: We often have an understanding of the risks and exposures when the

physicians have had a strong association with the hospital majority of physicians’ practice at your hospital credentialing history claims experience where physician and hospital named in the same

suit Medical malpractice may be the main focus of evaluation – but what

about the other exposures of the professional corporation and its employees?

Current coverage form and status of current insurer Potential from compensable events which have not been reported How do we address the exposures of physicians with whom we have

not had a strong affiliation?

ALTERNATIVE # 1

Risk Management Implications: What pre-employment strategies do we initiate to better understand

the exposures? Risk management assessment of the practice? Is there a hospital policy on the assumption of prior acts? Are we treating all physicians the same? Is there an underwriting application and process in place? Are CMS and other quality indicators and practice patterns

considered? What is the interphase between risk management and the

credentials process? Use of independent underwriters Orientation to hospitals’ risk management program

ALTERNATIVE # 1

Underwriting and risk evaluation process should include the following: Application Interface with credentials process and quality indicators Complete loss history Complete practice history (i.e., location of previous practice activities) Specialty (are you really going to insure an OB tail?) Rating plan/actuarial input

Goal is to minimize chance of large claims reported after tail inception date Highlights need for full and complete reporting to the previous carrier Review incident/PCE reports to confirm notice provided

More complicated if carrier has a “demand” trigger If so, gain understanding of incidents/PCEs for which no demand has been

received

ALTERNATIVE # 1

Claims Management Implications: Thorough review of all past claims Consent to settle as an employee vs. prior insurer

Is the physician’s consent to settle even required? Joint defense of claims Do you have sufficient systems and claims professionals to

handle the claims?

ALTERNATIVE # 1

How are “prior acts” claims going to be managed? What if they arise from acts outside your hospital system?

What limits of liability for prior acts will the system provide? $1M/$3M or full program limits?

ALTERNATIVE # 1

Costs and Risk Financing Implications: Prior acts coverage can be very expensive regardless of who pays

for it 150%–250% of mature claims-made premium Many physicians cannot afford or haven’t planned for this cost

How does this cost factor into the “Fair Market Value” of the transaction?

Business case for employing physicians vs. cost If you pay for “Prior Acts,” do you also provide “Tail” when physician

leaves? 1099 – revenue recognition of the value of prior acts for the

physician?

ALTERNATIVE # 1

This is third party business: Is it diminimis? Taxes, Excise, UBIT, Self Procurement Conduct of insurance business in violation of state laws?

Can I use a trust? Do I need a front? Doing business on shore for an off-shore captive

Allocation between “third party” vs. “my party” business Potential difference between tail coverage factors for commercial

carriers versus true cost If rigorous reporting to prior carrier, true cost may be closer to

110%-150% of the respective annual mature claims-made premium

ALTERNATIVE # 1

Captives probably are most cost effective alternative & have the greatest flexibility Proper review and analysis has yielded success for a

number of programs Rigorous reporting to prior carrier Lower overhead Risk margin Investment income You are in control

Key is understanding and mitigating risk before assuming it

ALTERNATIVE # 1

The Physician Buys Own “Prior Acts” Coverage From Current Insurer.

Sounds Easy And Issues Go Away?

Panel Discussion

ALTERNATIVE # 2

Risk Management Implications:We still need to conduct our due diligence of the physician and practice to include an assessment of exposures, risk management practices, and claims for us to understand the risk we are assuming on a going forward basisWe need to underwrite the exposures we are adding to our programWe need to orient the physician to our risk management and claims protocol, risk financing programs, allocation of costs, and other requirements

ALTERNATIVE # 2

Claims Management Implications: Transfers tail liability risk to commercial market

Physician comes into self-insurance program clean What are the limits purchased and who is the carrier?

Does the hospital system weigh in?Are there exposures to the hospital if the physician is

under-insured for his tail liability?Financial strength of the commercial insurer/RRG?

ALTERNATIVE # 2

Health Care System Funds The “Prior Acts” For The Physician

Panel Discussion

ALTERNATIVE # 3

We still need to conduct our due diligence in understanding the exposures, and risk management issues and have a good understanding of the claims

But under this alternative: Loss of control of “prior acts” claims – no joint defense Need to issue a 1099 “Fair market value” of the transaction needs to be considered

What are the contractual obligation of either party if the physician leaves? Any pay back provision? Do you provide “tail” coverage for the employment period?

ALTERNATIVE # 3 Risk Management Implications:

Pros: Loan serves as “Golden Handcuffs” during term of the loan Simple to administer

Cons: Greatest up-front cost for the health care system of any option Can reduce the amount of money available to purchase assets and fund salary

(Tail cost part of fair market value) Physician is “free” to leave the health care system at end of 5 years with no tail

liability Employment agreement must address:

Pre-employment tail liability arrangement Insurance coverage during employment Post employment insurance consequences Fair market value issues Personal income tax issues for the physician

ALTERNATIVE # 3 Risk Financing Implications:

What are the limits purchased and who is the carrier: Does the hospital system weigh in?

Financing the tail premium is a major factor in the employment deal Significant expense for the health care system Impact on fair market value for the practice Impact on the physician’s income from the transaction

There is a one-time cost for the health care system, but future risk exposure is minimal

ALTERNATIVE # 3

Claims Management Implications:Pros:

Transfers tail liability risk to commercial market Physician comes into self-insurance program clean

ALTERNATIVE # 3

Health Care System Partners With A Commercial Insurer To Provide “Prior

Acts” Coverage For The Physician Upon Employment

Panel Discussion

ALTERNATIVE # 4

Risk Financing Implications:Commercial Options:

Current insurer of the physician Your current insurance partners Other commercial stand-alone programs: Alterra, Lloyd’s,

Med Pro, One Beacon, Ironshore, Cooperative of American Physician RRG, and others

Portfolio transfers for programs if large physician group is involved

Other flexible arrangements and partnerships with a commercial insurerWho is paying the bill?

ALTERNATIVE # 4

Pros: No upfront tail cost No tail cost at time of transaction, therefore increases potential portion of

“sale price” physician can realize as income Cons:

Portion of first 4 years premium for the $1M claims-made policy is imputed income to physician.

Complicated to administer Complicated to understand Do we need to establish a reserve on the financials of the captive to

account for the “new” employment related tail liability we would be accruing?

How does a health care system deal with the tail liability when a physician leaves employment? Remember a portion of it is the health care system’s tail exposure by that time.

ALTERNATIVE # 4

Control of claims/joint defense Flexibility to change insurers (reinsurers) Denial of coverage? Pros:

Commercial carrier responsible for physician’s “prior-acts” coverage and claims-handling

Cons: First $1M of coverage is being provided by commercial company for pure premium –

health care system gets no benefit from positive claims experience First $1M of each health care system employment related claim not within our control Very complicated to administer (first $1M=commercial coverage; remainder of health

care system’s SIR, then excess) Difficult to allocate insurance related responsibility for any large claim (i.e., physician

and health care systems named in claim – who pays what could be contested) Do you need approval from excess carriers?

ALTERNATIVE # 4

Claims Management Implications:

“Please utilize outside legal and tax counsel, run it by your auditor, and work closely with your broker and actuary.”

Conclusion