New Hampshire Insurance Department Public Hearing Concerning the New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association

New Hampshire Insurance Department Public Hearing Concerning the New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association Thursday, December 4, 2014 10:00 am Hearing Room A at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) 21 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH Please use front entrance facing Fruit Street The New Hampshire Insurance Department will host a public hearing on Thursday, December 4, 2014, beginning at 10:00 am in Room A at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in the Walker Building, at 21 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH. Please enter the building using the front central doors (facing west across Fruit Street) and follow the signs. This public hearing is being conducted at the recommendation of the Commission to Study the New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association. For more information, visit the Department’s News and Events page at www.nh.gov/insurance. The Commission has determined that legislative action is required in the 2015 session to determine the future of the JUA. Without legislative action, the rule authorizing the JUA will expire. Without legislative direction, the Department cannot reauthorize the JUA, and the Department will, of necessity, begin an orderly wind down of JUA business under court supervision in 2015. Interested parties should attend this public hearing to present testimony to address the following two questions: (1) Is medical malpractice coverage “readily available” in the commercial market? In other words, if the JUA were to close, would health care providers be able to purchase medical malpractice insurance from commercial insurers? (2) If coverage isn’t “readily available,” what is the best way to make malpractice insurance available on a guaranteed-issue basis? The Insurance Department will issue a report addressing these two questions with findings and recommendations. If the testimony received shows that medical malpractice coverage is readily available in the private market, the Department’s report will include recommendations for legislation to wind down JUA operations. Please register in advance if you plan to attend the hearing by emailing Danielle.Barrick@ins.nh.gov or calling Sandra Barlow at 271-7973 x-262. Comments are welcome in person at the hearing or in writing, submitted to Sandra Barlow by December 4th at the Insurance Department, 21 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH 03301, or Sandra.Barlow@ins.nh.gov.