Some health aides to see insurance hikes

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 | 11:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- National Union Fire Insurance Co. has received permission to boost medical professional rates by 50 percent immediately to nurses, home health aides and others employed by home health care agencies.

State Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman also is considering a 180 percent increase in medical malpractice premiums that will hit eight Nevada psychiatrists and a 0.8 percent increase that will affect 74 other Nevada doctors.

The National Union Fire Insurance rate increase includes a 25 percent surcharge for workers in high tech or critical care, as well as a base rate increase, Molasky-Arman said Wednesday. Both raises will become effective September 2003.

The company writes only five policies in Nevada for home health care agencies.

Besides nurses and home health aides, the policies cover sitter/companions, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech pathologists and dietitians employed by home health care agencies

Meanwhile, the Doctors Co. has applied to raise rates by 180 percent to eight psychiatrists in Nevada. An insurance division spokeswoman said the company is boosting rates nationwide to an organization called Medical Professional Liability for Professional Counselors Purchasing Group.

That group buys coverage for psychiatrists nationwide and eight of its members are in Nevada. Negotiations are under way with The Doctors Co. to lower its request.

In another application received by the insurance division, Medical Insurance Exchange of California is proposing to raise malpractice rates by 0.8 percent to 74 physicians in Nevada, the majority of them practicing in Clark County.

The increase applies to corporations formed by doctors and not to their personal coverage.