News & Updates

As we enter the last quarter of 2014, NORCAL Mutual would like to remind our policyholders that this is the last chance for Medicare-eligible professionals to demonstrate meaningful use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) before they become subject to decreases in their Medicare reimbursements on January 1, 2015. Medicaid eligible professionals who do not bill Medicare will not be affected. Medicare-eligible professionals need to demonstrate meaningful use for a 90-Day reporting period in 2014 to avoid being subject to a 1% penalty. The penalty will increase in subsequent years, up to a maximum of 5%, should the provider continue to fail to demonstrate meaningful use.

Previously Provided by Subsidiary PMSLIC Insurance Company 

NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company is now offering medical professional liability insurance coverage to healthcare professionals in Delaware and Pennsylvania. The company enters each of these states offering a new enhanced policy with additional coverage options. Coverage was previously offered by NORCAL Mutual’s subsidiary PMSLIC Insurance Company (“PMSLIC”). 

Continues national rollout and subsidiary integration 

NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company is expanding its coverage area to include Kansas and Missouri, offering a new enhanced medical professional liability insurance policy for healthcare professionals. The company’s subsidiary, Medicus Insurance Company, has been offering coverage in these states since 2007. 

NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company is now offering medical professional liability insurance to Illinois and Nevada physicians. Since 2006, Illinois and Nevada healthcare professionals have been offered coverage from Medicus Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of NORCAL Mutual. Upon renewal, Medicus policyholders will be transitioned to a NORCAL Mutual policy.

“Our continued commitment to the medical communities we serve includes practicing responsible growth to ensure our company’s strength and stability for the benefit of our policyholders,” said Ron Rumin, Senior Vice President of Business Development for NORCAL Mutual. “The expansion of NORCAL Mutual into Illinois and Nevada was a strategic decision that reinforces our nearly decade-long commitment to the state and offers our policyholders unique benefits that come with coverage from a mutual company.”

As a member of a physician‐led mutual insurance company, NORCAL Mutual policyholders will have the right to vote in the election of board of directors and share in any dividends that may be declared. NORCAL Mutual has declared dividends for 34 of the past 36 years.

NORCAL Mutual also offers coverage in Alaska, California, Rhode Island and Texas. The reach of the NORCAL Group, which includes Medicus and PMSLIC Insurance Company, spans 32 states.

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft® will end support for Windows XP. This means that if you use Windows XP you will no longer receive updates to fix security-related and other problems with this version of Windows.

Earlier this year, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released nine Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) guides to assist healthcare organizations and providers with assessing and optimizing their use of electronic health records (EHRs). In creating these guides, the ONC used the most current evidence available and field-tested it at a range of healthcare organizations, from small ambulatory practices to large health systems.