Ohio Department of Insurance Director Ann Womer Benjamin has
licensed a new medical malpractice insurer, Ohio Hospital Association
Insurance Solutions.
She said the licensing of OHAIS was one of "several curative
measures" her department was considering "to return stability
to the market and ensure that doctors practice and deliver quality care
to Ohioans."
She said she also expected the Ohio House of Representatives to
take action in January on a medical malpractice bill passed by the House
Insurance Committee in December.
The legislation would authorize the transfer of $12 million from
the Ohio Joint Underwriting Association to her department to fund a new
Medical Liability Underwriting Association, if the market further
deteriorates, or other initiatives.
She said she also was creating "a system for reporting medical
malpractice lawsuits, outcomes and settlements" as well as working
to establish a "rigorous review of rate filings and the initiation
of examinations of the rating and underwriting practices of Ohio's
top medical malpractice insurers."
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