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July 10, 2024
No Coverage for Anti-Kickback Settlement

D & O Policy Professional Services Exclusion - Post 4830

Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/g-Srqy6m, see the full video at https://lnkd.in/gvhVhEnY and at https://lnkd.in/gGMGepXT, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 4800 posts.

The California Court of Appeals was asked to resolve a dispute over the applicability of professional services coverage exclusions in directors and officers liability insurance policies. The policies were issued to Practice Fusion, Inc., a company that develops and licenses electronic health record software for use by healthcare providers.

In Practice Fusion, Inc. v. Freedom Specialty Insurance Company et al., A167130, A167886, California Court of Appeals, First District, Second Division (June 21, 2024) it responded.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

An electronic health record is an electronic version of a patient’s medical history as maintained by a healthcare provider.

Following investigations by the United States Department of Justice, Practice Fusion entered into a civil settlement with the United States that resolved two distinct sets of claims that alleged that Practice Fusion violated the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Further, although the alerts appeared to healthcare providers as unbiased medical information, in some instances they were designed to encourage healthcare providers to prescribe a specific product or class of products to the benefit of the sponsoring pharmaceutical company.

Practice Fusion sought insurance coverage for the civil settlement under its directors and officers liability insurance policies. The insurers denied coverage on the ground that the policies’ professional services exclusions applied to the losses. Practice Fusion then sued the insurers for breach of contract.

The trial court granted the insurers’ motion for summary adjudication because the claims arose from Practice Fusion providing professional services to the pharmaceutical companies and its claim was barred by the professional services exclusion in the policies.

The Settlement Between the United States Department of Justice and Practice Fusion

In January 2020, Practice Fusion agreed to pay $118,642,000 plus interest to the United States and participating states to resolve claims arising from investigations relating to Practice Fusion’s electronic health record software.

Practice Fusion’s Insurance Coverage

Several insurers relevant to the CDS claims insured Practice Fusion under primary or excess directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance policies. The policies in an “insurance tower” provided a total of $50 million in coverage. All policies contained an exclusion that applies to all “Insureds” and bars coverage for “Loss in connection with any Claim made against any Insured . . . alleging, arising out of, based upon or attributable to an Insured’s performance of or failure to perform professional services for others, or any act(s), error(s) or omission(s) relating thereto; ….”

DISCUSSION

At issue in this case are exclusions that apply to losses connected to claims arising from “professional services for others.” The loss claimed by Practice Fusion as a result of its settlement with the United States as to the CDS alerts falls within the provisions in Practice Fusion’s D&O policies exclude coverage for claims arising out of, based upon or attributable to an Insured’s performance of professional services for others, or any act(s), error(s) or omission(s) relating thereto.

Practice Fusion conceded it agreed to modify its software to include the CDS alerts, which were targeted for particular patients with particular conditions based on selected guidelines. The contracts between Practice Fusion and the pharmaceutical companies are premised upon Practice Fusion providing the companies with professional services. The Court of Appeals concluded that the CDS claims, which Practice Fusion settled, are claims that meet the terms of the exclusion.

Accordingly, the loss connected to the settlement of the DOJ’s claims regarding the CDS alerts was barred by the professional services exclusion. The contracts included as a major objective for Practice Fusion to provide the companies with services by deploying CDS alerts in its software and by “arranging for or recommending” that healthcare providers prescribe their products.

ZALMA OPINION

Health insurance fraud is rampant. If you read Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter you will see dozens of convictions for fraud on government funded health care programs and multiple civil settlements like that reached with Practice Fusion. It would be ridiculous to allow a person or entity to insure for its fraudulent conduct and payment to avoid criminal prosecution. To do so would avoid the purpose of the kickback statutes and the crime that Practice Fusion avoided by agreeing to pay the Government and eliminate the fact that D&O insurance was designed to protect against fortuitous losses not intentional criminal conduct.

(c) 2024 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.

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00:08:52
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September 26, 2025
No Way Out After Murder Conviction

Intentionally Shooting a Woman With A Rifle is Murder

Post 5196

See the full video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog and more than 5150 posts.

You Plead Guilty You Must Accept the Sentence

In Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania v. Mark D. Redfield, No. 20 WDA 2025, No. J-S24010-25, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (September 19, 2025) the appellate court reviewed the case of Mark D. Redfield, who pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for killing April Dunkle with malice using a rifle.

Affirmation of Sentence:

The sentencing court’s judgment was affirmed, and jurisdiction was relinquished, concluding no abuse of discretion occurred.

Reasonable Inference on Trigger Pulling:

The sentencing court reasonably inferred from the guilty plea facts that the appellant pulled the trigger causing the victim’s death, an inference supported by the record and consistent with the plea.

Guilty Plea Facts:

The appellant admitted during the plea hearing...

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September 25, 2025
Prelitigation Communications Privileged

The Judicial Proceedings Privilege
Post 5196

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the full video at and at

Judicial Proceeding Privilege Limits Litigation

In David Camp, and Laura Beth Waller v. Professional Employee Services, d/b/a Insurance Branch, and Brendan Cassity, CIVIL No. 24-3568 (RJL), United States District Court, District of Columbia (September 22, 2025) a defamation lawsuit filed by David Camp and Laura Beth Waller against Insurance Branch and Brendon Cassity alleging libel based on statements made in a letter accusing them of mishandling funds and demanding refunds and investigations.

The court examined whether the judicial proceedings privilege applieD to bar the defamation claims.

Case background:

Plaintiffs Camp and Waller, executives of NOSSCR and its Foundation, sued defendants Insurance Branch and Cassity over a letter alleging financial misconduct and demanding refunds and audits. The letter ...

00:07:56
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September 24, 2025
Untrue Application for Insurance Voids Policy

Misrepresentation or Concealment of a Material Fact Supports Rescission

Post 5195

Don’t Lie to Your Insurance Company

See the full video at and at https://rumble.com/v6zefq8-untrue-application-for-insurance-voids-policy.html and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.

In Imani Page v. Progressive Marathon Insurance Company, No. 370765, Court of Appeals of Michigan (September 22, 2025) because defendant successfully established fraud in the procurement, and requested rescission, the Court of Appeals concluded that the Defendant was entitled to rescind the policy and declare it void ab initio.

FACTS

Plaintiff's Application:

Plaintiff applied for an insurance policy with the defendant, indicating that the primary use of her SUV would be for "Pleasure/Personal" purposes.

Misrepresentation:

Plaintiff misrepresented that she would not use the SUV for food delivery, but records show she was compensated for delivering food.

Accident:

Plaintiff's SUV was involved in an accident on August ...

00:07:48
September 09, 2025
The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime
Post 5185
Posted on September 8, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gePN7rjm and at https://lnkd.in/gzPwr-9q

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers.

The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime

See the full video at and at

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is designed to help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the ­­­Perpetrators than any Other Crime.

How Elderly Doctors Fund their ...

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September 08, 2025
The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime
Post 5185
Posted on September 8, 2025 by Barry Zalma

See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gePN7rjm and at https://lnkd.in/gzPwr-9q

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers.

The Dishonest Chiropractor/Physician

How a Need for Profit Led Health Care Providers to Crime

See the full video at and at

This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is designed to help to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the ­­­Perpetrators than any Other Crime.

How Elderly Doctors Fund their ...

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September 03, 2025

Barry Zalma: Insurance Claims Expert Witness
Posted on September 3, 2025 by Barry Zalma
The Need for a Claims Handling Expert to Defend or Prove a Tort of Bad Faith Suit

© 2025 Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE

When I finished my three year enlistment in the US Army as a Special Agent of US Army Intelligence in 1967, I sought employment where I could use the investigative skills I learned in the Army. After some searching I was hired as a claims trainee by the Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Company. For five years, while attending law school at night while working full time as an insurance adjuster I became familiar with every aspect of the commercial insurance industry.

On January 2, 1972 I was admitted to the California Bar. I practiced law, specializing in insurance claims, insurance coverage and defense of claims against people insured and defense of insurance companies sued for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. After 45 years as an active lawyer, I asked that my license to practice law be declared inactive ...

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