[Aama-cases] Malpractice insurance

[vkoganski at comcast.net]

I am an Internal Medicine physician in PA.  Acupuncture is about 10% of my
practice and my insurance carrier does not charge me anything extra.  I have
ProNational, which is located somewhere in the Midwest.

----- Original Message -----
From: <PetersonCpeters at aol.com>
To: <aama-cases at mailman.olympus.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003 8:58 PM
Subject: [Aama-cases] Malpractice insurance


> Joe,
>
> It is interesting that you raise this concern. I am also an FP. Last week
I
> spoke briefly with Jim Dowden in this regard. An insurance carrier in
Wisconsin
> had recently quoted me, FP with surgery rates for acupuncture. Their
> reasoning (this time) is that there are no actuarial figures to reflect
the true risks
> involved.
>
> In 1998, I practiced Family Practice in Illinois and Wisconsin. One day a
> week I did acupuncture. The insurance carrier said the rates would be
based on FP
> with surgery (therefore, my rates would have increased) because
acupuncture
> involved the use of needles. I told them I found that interesting as I was
> already covered for minor office surgery. In respect to the use of
needles, not
> only had I been using needles prior to and since pursuing a career in
medicine
> believe it or not, I gave orders for other people to use needles (e.g.,
nursing
> and laboratory staff). At that time, they agreed not to raise my rates as
> long as acupuncture did not entail more than 50% of my practice.
>
> I left my practice there in 2001, to pursue additional studies in
> acupuncture. I am in the process of planning my relocation back home. I am
hoping, that I
> can find coverage without the increased rate this time. Currently, the
> insurance carrier wants to increase the rate because I told them I
anticipate doing
> acupuncture full time. I feel that this is a big rip off. How can you
equate
> acupuncture needles with surgery? Yet, I'm not sure of what which options
> and/or possibilities will exist by the time I move back home.
>
>
> Cheryl S. Peterson MD
>
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