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01 Jul 2016
In December 2015, the Board published a revised registration standard for professional indemnity insurance (PII) arrangements that takes effect from today.
The revised standard now applies to all registered osteopaths except those with non-practising registration.
It is your responsibility as an osteopath to ensure that you comply with the new standard by the time you renew your registration, which is due by 30 November 2016.
The key change in the new PII arrangements registration standard is that the minimum amount of cover specified in the current standard ($20 million) has been removed from the standard. The new standard aims to take a more contemporary and flexible approach, and requires registrants who are taking out their own insurance to do an objective self-assessment, informed by policies provided by insurance providers, to ensure they have adequate and appropriate insurance arrangements or professional indemnity cover for their practice.
Further changes have been made to improve the clarity and workability of the standard, and understanding of the requirements and obligations of registrants. There have been some minor changes to the requirements relating to run-off and retroactive cover to avoid duplication and provide more clarity.
An insurer providing PII to osteopaths must generally be registered with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) or be a Lloyd’s underwriter (APRA’s website contains a list of registered general insurers).
The Board published the standard well in advance of its commencement to provide osteopaths adequate time to ensure that their arrangements for PII will meet the new registration standard. To ensure a smooth transition to the new standard, the Board has allowed for a transition period to meet the standard.
All osteopaths must meet the new standard by the time they renew their registration which is due by 30 November 2016. Until that time, it is acceptable that your PII arrangements meet the Board’s registration standard for PII arrangements dated 1 July 2010. However, if your PII policy is due for renewal in the meantime you should ensure that your new policy meets the new standard.
If your PII arrangements policy is not due for renewal before you renew your registration, you will need to contact your insurer, and if necessary, have your policy adjusted so that it meets the new standard by the time you renew your registration.
The Board encourages all osteopaths to review the new registration standard to check whether their current PII arrangements will need to be adjusted to meet the requirements of the new standard.
Osteopaths whose registration is not due for renewal by 30 November 2016 must meet the requirements of the new standard by 30 November 2016.
More information about the new PII arrangements standard, including the brief consultation report, FAQ and a fact sheet, is available on the Professional indemnity insurance arrangements page of the AHPRA website.