New York State
Insurance Department

        Superintendent of Insurance Neil D. Levin announced that the Department has approved a dissolution plan of the Medical Malpractice Insurance Association (MMIA), transferring all old liabilities to the Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company.

        "The Department’s approved plan succeeds in privatizing the obligations of MMIA and does so through the largest writer of private medical malpractice insurance in New York State," said Levin.

        The Department was required to approve a dissolution plan by April 30^th, that maximizes the value of MMIA to the state, without impairing or impeding the operation of the voluntary medical malpractice insurance market or limiting the access to medical malpractice coverage for health care practitioners or facilities insured by the MMIA.

        The Department held a public hearing to review the Department’s proposed plan for the dissolution as well as dissolution plans proposed by other interested parties on March 29^th.

        In addition, the Department is reviewing proposals regarding distribution to authorized medical malpractice insurers for the insureds of MMIA and health care practitioners and facilities, which will otherwise be unable to secure coverage in the voluntary market. A regulation prescribing a plan for this equitable distribution, which will be the subject of a public hearing to be held at a later date, must be promulgated prior to July 1^st.

        The Department’s Opinion and Decision is available on the Department’s Web site at www.ins.state.ny.us.