Liability Insurance

As of March 1, 2022, the Insurance Verification and Claims History Program transitioned to SMPH Risk Management and Faculty Services. This program provides malpractice and claim history information for all current and prior SMPH clinical providers. SMPH Risk and Faculty Services also assists as a resource for questions relating to SMPH employee coverage under the State of Wisconsin Self-Funded Liability Program (SLP).

Insurance Verification and Claims History Program     Chair’s Letter

The program processes insurance verification and/or claims history requests for UW SMPH providers. It is administered by SMPH Risk Management and Faculty Services.

The program receives requests from:

• Current clinical providers – training completed, adding practice locations
• Medical Staff Administration – initial appointments and reappointments
• Prior clinical providers – training completed, employment changes, adding practice locations

Please send requests and questions to SMPH-RM@med.wisc.edu.

Requests are processed in the order they are received. Typical processing type will be listed in the acknowledgement email you’ll receive when you email smph-rm@med.wisc.edu.

Certificate of Insurance (COI) Request

One-page document summarizing malpractice insurance coverage, serving as verification SMPH provider is insured.

Claim History Request

Document summarizing malpractice insurance coverage with history of claims* filed against SMPH provider.

*SMPH Definition of “Claim” for purposes of claims history requests: Claims History: For purposes of credentialing, we define a claim related to professional negligence as a (1) properly filed and served lawsuit; (2) a properly filed Notice of Claim per Wisconsin Statute § 893.80(1d)(a); (3) request for Medical Mediation Panel per Wisconsin Statute § 655.42; or (4) any settlements made that are not a result of any of the above.

Request must include:

• Release of Information signed by provider
• Time Period

SMPH Risk Management provides assistance with University’s “Chair Letter” process for volunteer activities.

SMPH-employed physicians receive liability coverage (including medical malpractice coverage) through the State of Wisconsin Self-Funded Liability Program (SLP) for acts or omissions within the scope of their UW employment. This coverage includes a UW physician’s research, teaching, service, and clinical activities, and applies regardless of whether the UW physician engages in these activities in Wisconsin or outside of Wisconsin. (Additional information about coverage for UW employees under the State of Wisconsin’s SLP can be found at the Division of Business Services Liability Coverage page.)

With regard to volunteering to provide professional services at events that are separate from a SMPH-employed physician’s employment duties, SMPH employed physicians would need approval from their Department stating that activity is within the scope of their UW employment in order for coverage to extend to this type of outside activity. (Additional information is on the UW Office of Legal Affairs Liability Coverage page.)

If participation in a planned activity is not specifically identified as part the SMPH physician’s UW job duties/employment, SMPH providers may want to reach out to their Department Chair to have them sign a “chair letter” that indicates that the Department considers your participation in that specific activity to be within the scope of their UW employment. Once signed by the Chair, the form should be maintained in the provider’s personnel file in the Department. A copy of the completed and signed Chair’s Letter can be forwarded to SMPH Risk Management as well. The letter would then be retained by the Department and SMPH Risk Management in the event a claim were to arise related to that event.

Note: The following template is a helpful starting point; please add language that reflects the specific scenario and SMPH provider. Reach out to SMPH Risk or SMPH Faculty Services with any questions.