Med Mal Insurers File for Increases in Kentucky

The Kentucky Department of Insurance scheduled two public hearings in June to discuss specific rate filings from two medical malpractice insurance carriers. According to Insurance Commissioner Janie A. Miller, recent filings from ProNational Insurance Company and OHIC Insurance Company will be addressed at the hearings.

The Pro National hearing will be held June 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. and the OHIC hearing will be June 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both will be held in the DOI Hearing Room, 215 W. Main St., Frankfort.

The ProNational filing to be reviewed involves an overall average increase of 57 percent for physicians, surgeons and health facilities. Two separate OHIC filings will be included in that hearing—one for an overall average increase of 157 percent for health facilities and a second filing with a 29 percent overall average increase for physicians and surgeons.

Miller said company representatives will be present at the hearings to offer justification for the proposed rates. Those wishing to provide comments will be asked to sign in prior to the hearing. Policyholders or members of the public wishing to testify must limit comments to the applicable rate filing. General comments about the medical malpractice insurance market will not be heard.

Time limitations for speakers will be based on participation level and will be announced at the beginning of each hearing. Any association wishing to offer comments is asked to appoint one spokesperson to speak on behalf of the group.

Commissioner Miller signed an order in January designating the medical malpractice line. This required companies to file medical malpractice rates with DOI and specified that any rate increase or decrease over 25 percent must be approved by the Commissioner prior to use.