Wisconsin’s Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund

The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (Fund) was created in 1975 to provide medical malpractice insurance for Wisconsin healthcare providers in excess of the provider’s primary limits of coverage. The Fund provides coverage in excess of the primary limit established by statute, which is currently $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate per year.

Doctors, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) who primarily practice in Wisconsin, and many types of healthcare facilities are required to participate in the Fund. According to the Fund’s 2016 Functional and Progress Report dated Feb. 24, 2017, as of Dec. 31, 2016, there were a total of 16,182 Fund participants comprised of 135 hospitals with 18 affiliated nursing homes, 14,050 physicians, 758 nurse anesthetists, 15 hospital-owned or controlled entities, 69 ambulatory surgery centers, one cooperative, 19 partnerships, and 1,117 corporations actively participating in the Fund.

At Dec. 31, 2016, the Fund consisted of 87 percent physicians, 7 percent corporations, and the remaining 6 percent included all other participants.

From July 1, 1975, through Dec. 31, 2016, the Fund was named in 6,090 claims filed; 670 of those have been paid for a total of $861,026,275; 5,290 claims have been closed with no indemnity payment.

The Fund’s next progress report, due March 1, 2018, will include an update on the Fund’s activities during 2017.

Source: Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance