By Matt Gracey The Florida Supreme Court’s recent overturn of the caps on non-economic damage awards in medical malpractice cases is the final nail in the coffin of tort reforms enacted in 2003. The frequency of lawsuits against doctors and correspondently the premiums for malpractice insurance in Florida since 2003 have dropped on average about 65%

Q: We keep hearing that a medical malpractice insurance hard market is coming in Florida. What does this really mean and when should we be concerned? A: The market cycle for malpractice insurance in Florida has fairly predictable cycles, with extreme fluctuations in pricing and insurers’ underwriting. For example, the late 1990s and early 2000s were

On September 12, 2016, Danna-Gracey CEO Matt Gracey received the Buchman Award for extraordinary achievement in the healthcare liability industry. This annual award is present to a partner who makes a significant positive contribution to the field and embodies the spirit of MedPro’s core values. Matt’s contributions include the development of a unique business strategy

As all Florida businesses large and small come to the realization that their workers’ compensation premium has increased almost 15% as of December 1st, 2016, most of them are completely unaware that this increase is only the beginning of additional increases if the Florida legislature does not take action this session to alleviate the effects of

By Vanessa Orr Physicians who invest in malpractice insurance in Florida have had the benefit of buying in a soft market – characterized by low rates and low claims – but according to insurance specialist Matt Gracey, CEO of Danna-Gracey, the leading independent medical malpractice insurance agency in the state, that is about to change.

Medical expert witness testimony is essential to all medical malpractice legal proceedings. Usually, without a medical expert, plaintiffs cannot proceed to trial, and defendants are usually doomed to an adverse jury verdict. Medical experts are recruited in many ways, even from proprietary companies who offer a diverse variety of experts. Many professional organizations, including the

Laura M. Cascella, MA Natural disasters, although devastating, offer opportunities to examine various aspects of disaster planning, preparedness, and response — including those related to healthcare. Specifically, several major disasters over the past decade have provided a glimpse of the many ways in which electronic health records (EHRs) are capable of transforming disaster recovery efforts

Laura M. Cascella, MA Environmental emergencies can occur at any time and any place, and they can have widespread consequences for individuals, businesses, and communities. Natural disasters, severe weather, industrial accidents, chemical and oil spills, and unintentional radiation exposure are all examples of potential environmental emergencies. History has shown society’s vulnerability to a myriad of

MedPro Group Patient Safety & Risk Solutions More than ever, people are using portable electronic devices (such as laptops, cell phones, tablets, e-readers, and other “smart” devices) as part of everyday life. This trend will no doubt continue to grow as a result of technological advances and consumer demand. Although these devices can be entertaining

Laura M. Cascella, MA A look at MedPro claims data for otolaryngology (ENT) shows that allegations related to diagnosis are not as prevalent as allegations involving surgical treatment. However, claims involving diagnosis-related allegations can be significant in terms of poor patient outcomes. These claims often involve cancer, and most of the allegations are related to