Physicians who add an ASC to their individual physician's malpractice policy could find themselves or their center underinsured, according to Breckenridge Insurance Services.
Three reasons individual malpractice policies may be inadequate for ASC coverage:
1. The physician's malpractice policy may not provide defense for the surgery center or non-physician owners.
2. Nurses, aides, administrative staff and other employees who could be named in a lawsuit likely wouldn't be covered under the physician's malpractice policy.
3. The ASC could be found separately liable for misbilling, depending on how the center bills Medicaid, Medicare and private insurers.