Cyber Crime
Following HIPAA High Tech legislation and recognizing the seriousness of cyber liability and cyber crime, states are now starting to require some healthcare providers to purchase cyber liability insurance.
Protecting Client Records
As always, the NASW supports its social worker members in many ways. Preferra Insurance Company augments this support with practical solutions and insurance protection.
Social Worker Core Functions
Social Work is a profession and academic discipline that improves the quality of life and well-being of individuals, groups, and communities by direct practice, policy development, organizing communities and outreach, and crisis intervention.
Importance of Cyber Liability
Social Workers now, more than ever, need insurance coverage for third-party data breach. Federal and State governments demand higher expectations from Social Workers, and with the advent of the HIPAA HIGH TECH Law passed in March 2013 and enforced beginning in September 2013, Social Workers are now held liable and even more accountable than ever before.
What is Cyber Liability?
A data beach is the release of secure information into an unsecured environment. This happens intentionally or unintentionally. A data breach or security incident occurs when confidential data such as patient records, or personal financial data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, or used by an individual unauthorized to handle such information.
Are You Certain Your Employer’s Professional Liability Policy Covers You?
We live in a very litigious society. Your NASW endorsed Risk Retention Group Professional Liability insurance policy issued by Preferra Insurance Company provides insurance coverage for all of the above matters. It fills the coverage gaps?
Are You Headed to Court?
Social workers receive a subpoena many times during their career. Sometimes many in one year. Legal defense and advisory costs for one subpoena usually cost the social worker up to $5,000, and may not be covered by the professional liability insurance policy, so the money to pay for legal advisory and defense comes out of the social worker’s wallet.
Thinking About Retiring?
If you are thinking about closing your practice, there are many questions that need to be addressed. How should you inform your clients, both past, and present? What legal and ethical obligations do you have when closing your practice? Where do you start? This topic is broader than these tips will cover, but this will help you get started.
Keep Your Coverage Continuously
If you are an NASW member with professional liability insurance that you obtained as an NASW member,whether recently or years ago, this is critical information that affects you.
Report Early, Report Often
As many social workers understand from experience, it is common to be subpoenaed to provide evidence or testimony related to client records, or to receive complaints against your social work license that must be addressed with your State Licensing Board.
Seeking Legal Assistance
Licensing board complaints and malpractice lawsuits can be stressful and financially devastating without the proper financial safety net, legal advice, and representation to support and guide you.
What to Expect in the Courtroom
As many know, it is common for social workers to be asked to testify on behalf of clients related to divorce trials, custody hearings, child placements, and other matters. Social workers also sometimes find themselves in the unfortunate and usually unexpected position of having to testify on their own behalf in court, to defend against a malpractice lawsuit or a complaint against their license.