(3/12/08) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has
confirmed a current shortage of Haemophilus
influenzae type B (Hib) vaccines. According to the
CDC, the shortage has occurred because of voluntary
recalls of several lots of the Hib vaccines. Merck &
Co., Inc., is recalling some lots of PedvaxHIB® and
COMVAX® Hib vaccines because of concerns that they were
not sterile after the bacterium Bacillus
cereus was found on manufacturing equipment used to
produce the lots. (To see exactly which lots have been
recalled, go to the
CDC Web site.)
The CDC recommends regular vaccination for infants under
12 months. However, because of the vaccine shortage, the
CDC is advising the Hib booster dose NOT be given to
healthy children aged 12-15 months. Some physicians
have reported that the current shortage is also causing
difficulties in obtaining vaccines to administer to
children under 12 months. When a physician is not able
to give a Hib vaccine that would normally be given, he
or she should document in that patient’s chart that the
vaccine was not given because the practice had no supply
as a result of the shortage. This will verify that the
vaccine was not forgotten, but is being postponed
because no vaccines are available. In addition,
physicians should keep lists of children who do NOT get
initial vaccines or the booster doses and should contact
the families later, when Hib supplies increase, in order
to schedule them and administer the missed vaccinations.
The CDC expects the Hib vaccines to be more available in
the fall of 2008.
Physicians can confirm this information and get further
details at the CDC Web site.
To see a list of national vaccine supplies
To see a summary of the CDC’s current recommendations
for the Hib vaccine
(11/12/07) On November 6, 2007, the PMSLIC Board of
Directors declared a 2007 dividend of 8.5 percent. The
dividend will be paid to policyholders renewing their
PMSLIC coverage on or after January 1, 2008.
The Board declared the dividend as the result of
improvement in prior years’ loss experience and strong,
financial management. PMSLIC has a participating policy,
which permits the company to share the benefit of
improved results with its physician policyholders
through policyholder dividends. It is one of many
advantages of insuring with PMSLIC, a physician-directed
carrier.
(7/12/07) If you are a policyholder or an authorized
registered user, we encourage you to sign in regularly
to the secure area of the PMSLIC Web site to benefit
from the protected information available only to you:
- Loss Prevention Discount (LPD) program
activities
- Risk management information and forms
- Certificate of Insurance
- Account information, including an account
activity report and your current invoice
Periodically signing in to the site keeps your
account active. If your account remains inactive for
longer than one year your user ID and password will be
disabled as a security measure.
If you have any questions regarding the registration
process or have an account that has become disabled due
to inactivity, please contact PMSLIC's Technical
Support Help Desk at 800.445.1212, extension 7777, or at
helpdesk@pmslic.com
during our normal business hours ( 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
EST).
(3/22/07) Physicians who inactivate their medical
liability insurance policy due to military deployment
need to complete MCARE's exemption form either before
they leave or as soon as they return from duty. This
will prevent them from receiving a non-compliance
notice.
The exemption form can be found on the MCARE Web site
under
Coverage Forms - Online Exemption Form.
PMSLIC will suspend coverage for a policyholder who is
called to active duty for a period longer than 60 days.
A credit will be applied to the premium for the period
of suspension, and further billings will be suspended
until the policyholder returns. For instructions on how
to notify PMSLIC, please see the section on
“Changes to Practice.”
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