1 In many cases, certification is required by the state. 2  As technology advances, more employers will seek highly trained health information technicians to assist in the modernization of a healthcare facility's record management system. 3  The medical coder's job is to review various medical documents provided by physicians.
Of course, it's tough to define the average malpractice premium even within specialties. Premiums differ widely across the country, and not always predictably, either. Take New York state, where medical-liability premiums are notoriously high. Rates peak not in New York City but on Long Island. There, internists paid an average of $36,074 in 2012 to 2013, according to the nonprofit organization Excellus, which is licensed by Blue Cross Blue Shield. The NEJM article cited above puts ER doctors and internists side by side in terms of malpractice costs they incur.
And, most important question to ask: who is responsible for purchasing coverage, not, just ongoing, active malpractice insurance, but also nose and tail coverage? Tail for physicians is a multiple of 2.3 x the annual premium charged for that specialty. The issue of carving out, specifically, in the contract, who pays which percentage of the cost of the active medical malpractice insurance and the tail premium is so important. The purchase of tail in the medical malpractice underwriting world is similar to maintaining good credit.