Nurse Practitioner Liability Claims Costs Rising 2.3% a Year: CNA HealthPro

The average indemnity and expense payments in nurse practitioner liability claims have increased at a rate of 2.3 percent per year over the past 10 years, according to an insurer’s review of claims.

Pediatric/neonatal specialty has the highest average severity, professional liability insurer CNA HealthPro also reported.

The new report — Understanding Nurse Practitioner Liability: CNA HealthPro Nurse Practitioner Claims Analysis 1998-2008, Risk Management Strategies and Highlights of the 2009 NSO Survey — suggests that nurse practitioners are at a “paradigm shift” in today’s health care system. Whereas 10 years ago they did not have a prominent role, today physician groups, hospitals, aging services and other healthcare organizations increasingly depend upon them.

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has received advanced training and may perform some of the duties of a physician.

The document draws on CNA HealthPro claims data and NSO’s survey of nurse practitioners.

The data showed that the average indemnity payment increased from $168,600 in 1999 to $189,300 in 2008. Average expenses including legal costs went from $28,500 to $42,900 over the same span.

CNA HealthPro paid $64.8 million in claims over the 10 years and placed $24.9 million in reserves.

“In the last 10 years, nurse practitioners have increased their role in patient care; and, as a result, there is a greater focus on nurse practitioners in malpractice litigation,” said Bruce Dmytrow, vice president of Specialty Risk Control, CNA.

Other highlights of the CNA report:

The report’s data excludes claims for registered nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse midwives. Nurse practitioners in the report include clinical nurse specialists.