The proposed merger of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards was approved by NBCE delegates and FCLB members at their respective annual meetings, held jointly in Atlanta, Ga., this year. Per the new bylaws, the new entity takes the NBCE name, with FCLB continuing as a department within NBCE. The federation will continue to enjoy Board of Directors representation on what will be a single, expanded board.
| Digital ExclusiveMLMIC Malpractice Insurer Downgraded Again
On June 29, 2004, A.M. Best downgraded the ailing Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) from "B" (fair) to "B-" (poor). OHIC Insurance Company, another member of the MLMIC family, was given a "C++" (marginal) rating by A.M. Best on the same day.
Princeton Insurance Company, also a member of the MLMIC family, shares the same poor rating of "B-," having been downgraded by A.M. Best in 2002. Princeton has been able to avoid further downgrading by abandoning malpractice business in all but its home state of New Jersey.
What this means to the chiropractic profession is that the number of secure malpractice companies continues to decline. DCs are encouraged to carefully review a carrier's ratings and history when purchasing chiropractic malpractice insurance.