News
1. NEW ADDRESS FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS:
Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Co.
PO Box 7247-7232
Philadelphia, PA 19170-7232
Our mailing address has changed; premium payments will now go directly to our bank.
- DO NOT send your payment directly to a MLMIC office – doing so will delay updating your account balance.
- DO NOT include any correspondence with your remittance.
2. OVERNIGHT DELIVERY ADDRESS:
MLMIC / 7232
c/o Citibank Lockbox Operations
1615 Brett Road
New Castle, DE 19720-2425
3.WIRE TRANSFER:
Citibank N.A.
ABA# 021000089
Account# 38006651
Memo line from customer should include:
(1) Insured’s Name
(2) Policy Administrator’s Name, if different from the Insured
(3) Account and/or Policy number
In an attempt to improve patient safety as related to prescription medications and other products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested assistance in delivering electronic product-related patient safety notices to health care providers so that they receive them in a more timely, efficient, and effective manner. The current process, which relies on paper and the U.S. mail, is slow, expensive, and inefficient and leads to delays in notifying physicians and patients of important patient safety issues. The FDA notes that the resultant failure to inform physicians and patients of important patient safety issues in a timely fashion is a critical problem, so it is encouraging the delivery of notices online.
Over the past two years, a group of medical societies, liability carriers, and other groups have formed the iHealth Alliance, a not-for-profit corporation with goals that include improving patient safety using electronic means. The American Medical Association, a leader in this area, is also participating. The iHealth Alliance has worked with the FDA, manufacturers, medical societies, and others to create a network for delivering patient safety notifications to providers online that will fulfill FDA regulations and make the delivery timely, effective, and efficient for physicians. Key aspects of the
Health Care Notification Network (HCNN) include the following:
1. It is free to physicians. (Their e-mail addresses will be used only for patient safety notifications, not for marketing purposes—no lists will be sold to or used by third parties.)
2. Physicians will receive the notices days to weeks ahead of current paper/U.S. mail–based notifications.
3. Physicians can identify additional e-mail recipients for office staff who should also receive these notices.
4. The funding for the HCNN comes from user fees paid by manufacturers.
5. Providers can opt out of the HCNN at any time.
The HCNN will provide rapid online communication with physicians for FDA-mandated product recalls and warnings to replace the existing paper notifications sent via U.S. mail. Physicians not enrolled in the HCNN or those who enroll but do not open their e-mail notifications will be notified via standard mail. Physicians can elect to have other practice staff members notified via e-mail to increase efficiency. Practices can also forward notifications via e-mail to their patients and post them on their Web sites.
The iHealth Alliance will also be working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on the appropriate use of the HCNN for national public health emergencies, and the CDC has been offered a liaison seat on the iHealth Alliance board similar to the FDA’s liaison participation. It is hoped that in the near future, CDC public health messages and bioterrorism alerts as well as manufacturer patient safety notices will be added to the HCNN.
Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) believes that disseminating FDA product recalls and warnings has the potential to reduce malpractice claims—and, ultimately, decrease malpractice insurance premiums.
We are asking our insured physicians to enroll in the HCNN and receive their FDA-related patient safety notifications online. You should have received specific instructions for HCNN enrollment. If you have not received the information and would like a copy of the enrollment form, please contact MLMIC’s Risk Management department at (800) 275-6564 or download and print it by clicking the link below.
HCNN Enrollment Form
Robert A. Menotti, M.D., a distinguished surgeon, was elected President of Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) at its Annual Meeting in May 2007. Prior to his election as President, Dr. Menotti was an active member of MLMIC’s Board of Directors, serving, since 1989, on the company’s Executive, Finance, Underwriting, and Claims Committees. Further, he was Vice President and Treasurer beginning in 2004 and Vice President and Secretary beginning in 2006. Dr. Menotti had also been on the Board of Directors of two former MLMIC subsidiaries, Ohio Hospital Insurance Company (OHIC), from 2004 to 2006, and Professional Liability Insurance Company of America (PLICA), from 1997 to 2004.
Dr. Menotti received his medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1972. A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Menotti is a Diplomate on both the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Surgery. From 1977 until the year 2000, he was a valued staff member at several healthcare facilities in Utica, including Faxton, St. Elizabeth’s, and St. Luke’s Hospitals, the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center, and the Central New York Psychiatric Center. At Faxton Hospital, Dr. Menotti was Director of the Intensive Care Unit from 1977-1992, Chairman of the Department of Surgery from 1982-1983 and again from 1991-1992, and Medical Staff President in 1986.
An active member of organized medicine, Dr. Menotti has, over the years, held many positions within the Medical Society of the State of New York; the New York State Department of Health, Board for Professional Medical Conduct; and the American Medical Association. He is also a past president of the Oneida County Medical Society and held several offices in the New York Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Menotti is a very capable individual who understands MLMIC’s mission and culture, and we are delighted to have him lead the company going forward.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been released for administration to patients in a series of three doses. The FDA has approved the use of the vaccine for females from ages 9-26. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that the vaccine be given routinely to females aged 11-12 and has also approved its use for females 13-26. ACIP also concurs with the FDA that it can be administered to females as young as age 9. However, although physicians can treat minors for STDs, like the HPV, without parental consent, the New York State Department of Health has determined that this vaccine is not a “treatment” and parental consent is required prior to administering the vaccine to minors. Thus, all physicians must obtain consent from a parent of a minor patient, prior to initiating this series of three inoculations. Although parental consent can be documented in a note in the patient’s medical record, the safest way to confirm that parental consent actually has been obtained is to request that the parent sign a consent form. Fager & Amsler, LLP, has developed a consent form template for the Human Papillomavirus vaccine. Please call one of the Fager & Amsler, LLP offices if you wish to request a copy.