Once a notice of claim is reported, the loss is assigned to a claim supervisor and coverage is entered and verified. Once the claim file is set up in our system, the following occurs:
- A letter is sent to the policyholder requesting a copy of all medical records regarding the physician’s care of this patient.
- A response letter is sent to the plaintiff’s attorney or pro-se plaintiff requesting specific allegations, damage information, and a medical authorization that when signed by the patient, allows us to request the pertinent medical records;
- If a lawsuit has already been filed, then we dispense with the response letter to the plaintiff’s attorney. We assign a defense attorney to answer the lawsuit and defend the physician. The policyholder receives a letter from the claim supervisor advising of the attorney assignment.
The average time to complete this from the day the loss is called in is about 5 to 10 working days.
Do not discuss the case with anyone except an LSA claims representative or the attorney assigned to defend you.
- Maintain your original medical records in a secure place for future reference. Do not make any additions, deletions, or any other type of alteration to the medical records. Secure any other pertinent information or items in your possession, such as billing records, x-rays, hospital charts, etc.
- All correspondence to and from LSA and your assigned attorney should be kept in a separate and secure file. These items should not be co- mingled with the original medical chart on the patient. Do not release these materials to anyone unless cleared through your assigned attorney or the LSA Claims Operations Department.
- The LSA claims representative assigned to your case will keep you fully informed as the case proceeds, both directly and through your assigned attorney. If you have questions, do not hesitate to call your claim supervisor.
