March 18, 2021 | Oregon’s Changing Medical Liability Insurance Market
A rise in the frequency and severity of medical liability claims plus an extended period of downward competitive pressure on premiums are prompting insurance rate adjustments across the healthcare industry. In Oregon, paid medical liability indemnity claims nearly quadrupled in 2015-2019 compared to the prior five years. Expert speakers will explore factors contributing to this rise in claims activity — including social inflation and healthcare industry consolidation — and explore plaintiff bar strategies and legislative initiatives in play.
Moderator:
Shawn Chummer, Independent Medical Liability Insurance Consultant
Shawn has been an insurance industry professional for nearly 25 years servicing a wide variety of clients. Working for two major medical malpractice carriers over the last seven years, he provided medical malpractice and other lines of insurance to physicians and medical groups. He recently launched his own consulting practice focused on independent insurance reviews. Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance Law from Portland State University and an MBA from George Fox University. He resides in Beaverton with his wife and three boys.
Contact Shawn at shawn@chummar.com
Speakers:
Jennifer Millar, Senior Account Executive, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company
Jennifer is focused on underwriting and servicing physicians, physician groups and hospitals, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. She has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry including eight years handling claims. Jennifer has a particular interest in using claim and data analytics to help organizations identify trends that could mitigate their risk. Based in the Portland area, Jennifer joined Physicians Insurance in 2017 after spending nearly a decade at a national carrier. She earned a Healthcare MBA from Oregon Health and Sciences University and holds the designation of an Associate in Risk Management.
Contact Jennifer at jenniferm@phyins.com
Jeff Street, Co-Managing Partner, Hodgkinson Street Mepham, LLC
Jeff specializes in the defense of physicians and healthcare professionals in medical malpractice litigation. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and his law degree from Lewis & Clark College, Northwestern School of Law. He is an active member of the Oregon and Washington state bar associations and is admitted to all Federal and state courts in both jurisdictions. Jeff was recently inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and has also been recognized as an Advocate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale‐Hubbell, and has been selected as one of Portland’s Best Attorneys every year from 2008 to the present. In 2016 he was selected Medical Malpractice Defense Lawyer of the Year for Portland, Oregon. Throughout his career, Jeff has taken several hundred cases to trial or arbitration.
Contact Jeff at jrs@hs-legal.com
Anne Bryant, Senior Director of Government Relations, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company
Anne is a northwest native employed with Physicians Insurance since 1992. She manages all aspects of the government relations including developing and maintaining relationships with individuals in a variety of outside organizations. In addition, she is responsible for leadership participation in reform coalitions, business coalitions, strategy committees, policy organizations, and before legislative and regulatory bodies. Anne has worked to establish the government relations at Physicians Insurance as a recognized public policy leader and effective advocate of reasonable laws that impact health care liability, professional liability insurance and patient safety, both nationally and in states where the company does business. Anne frequently serves on appointed task forces to develop new laws and regulations, and she serves on a variety of boards of local and national organizations, coalitions and nonpartisan public policy think tanks. She is a registered lobbyist in Washington and Oregon.
Contact Anne at anne@phyins.com
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To share your ideas or if you are interested in sponsoring future events, please contact Robin Moody at robin@oregonhealthforum.org.