Insurance
Banking
Health Care
RE Nolan Home About Us Newsroom Industries Knowledge Careers Contact Us

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Marketing Department
The Robert E. Nolan Company
972-248-3727 x113
fax 972-733-1427
marketing@renolan.com
www.renolan.com

Medical Malpractice Insurers Sound Off on the Future of Their Industry

DALLAS, Texas, April 4, 2003 -- A recently conducted survey sheds light on how medical malpractice insurers view their industry’s future and what steps they are taking to meet it.  

Senior-level executives from nearly half of all U.S. medical malpractice insurance companies participated in the survey—which was conducted by the Robert E. Nolan Company, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry. The survey reveals:

bullet

Medical malpractice insurance executives are optimistic about the current structure of their individual companies and the industry overall.  They do not believe that there will be a dramatic consolidation of the industry in the near future.

bullet

Expansion into new territories is not a high priority.  Identification and resolution of present profitability issues (pricing, underwriting and claims handling) take priority in the near term.

bullet

The development of more sophisticated risk management metrics is viewed by executives as a strategic priority.

bullet

Professional liability insurers are taking a number of steps to improve financial performance.  The key actions identified to improve loss exposure are:
bullet

Improved underwriting processes and results, focusing on refining and adhering to underwriting principles and guidelines

bullet

Improved claim handling

bullet

Improved risk management

bullet

Proactive steps regarding legislative activities

bullet

Medical malpractice insurers are actively lobbying for tort reform and are working diligently with their policyholders to improve the risk management activities of their customers.

bulletMany executives are pessimistic about the current federal initiative to place limits on liability payments for medical malpractice claims.  They believe that the initiative and its debate will bring attention to the problems facing physicians, patients and the health care system, but that that in the long run there will be little impact from the initiative.

To receive the complete survey results, visit the Robert E. Nolan Company's Web site at http://www.renolan.com.

The Robert E. Nolan Company is a management consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry.  For three decades, Nolan has been helping companies improve service and reduce costs by improving business processes and optimizing the use of technology.  For more information, visit www.renolan.com.

###