NP Claims information

synaptic · Jul 5, 2015

read bout half of it before getting a headache. i did save it to read later. gives good insight on knowing what areas to watch out for when it comes to messing up lol.

CocoaLoverFNP · Jul 5, 2015

Wow! Thanks, Jules A. Made me more nervous after reading :)

Trauma Columnist · Jul 5, 2015

The reason to have your own malpractice insurance! While your employer's malpractice insurance will cover you at work, after the dust settles (and it can take 7-10 YEARS!!!) all the info goes to your board of nursing and guess what???? You get to start the worrying and stress all over again! Your employer's malpractice insurance could CARE LESS what happens to you with the board of nursing. You NEED your OWN malpractice insurance!

RiskManager · Jul 5, 2015

^^^FYI, you should be aware that the 'licensure defense' coverage is may only be triggered if the BON actually brings charges against you. You must read the policy to see which disciplinary hearings are covered as a result of covered license protection incidents. This is defined in the policy language. Not every licensure defense issue triggers coverage and is covered under the policy.

Be also aware that this coverage is reimbursement to you, the policy holder. If you report a license protection incident to your insurance company, and the company says you have coverage, you must go out and hire your own attorney, pay the bill up front, and the insurance company will reimburse you up to the limit of the license protection coverage, which is usually $ 20-25,000. Coverage is is usually not triggered if the BON is just investigating you, so if you want legal representation, you will be paying for this yourself. Even if there is no coverage, your company will probably give you some recommendations as to good attorneys to hire.

Coverage, or lack thereof, is always determined by the facts of the case. So if you get a letter from the BON stating that an investigation is being started, contact your professional liability carrier, ask them to open a claim file and describe the situation to the claims manager. The company will use the facts of the case, apply it against the coverage agreement in the policy, and officially notify you if you have any coverage or not. If not, they will send you a coverage denial or a reservation of rights letter, and this is your notice of no coverage or coverage with conditions attached.