Which statement best describes the malpractice insurance requirement for the common written agreement issue?

• A. The malpractice certificate of insurance must be active on the date of the written agreement submission, list the PA's name, and provide $1,000,000 in claims-made or occurrence coverage.
• B. Malpractice insurance is not required.
• C. Coverage must be at least $500,000.
• D. Only the supervising physician needs coverage.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a common written agreement between a PA and a supervising physician requires clear, professional liability protection that is in effect at the start of the arrangement. The correct statement ensures three essential pieces: the malpractice certificate of insurance is active on the date the written agreement is submitted, it lists the PA’s name, and the coverage amount is substantial enough—$1,000,000 in a claims-made or occurrence form. This combination guarantees there is current, identifiable protection for the PA’s professional activities under supervision and that the coverage meets a standard minimum to address potential claims.

Having the certificate active on the submission date prevents gaps in protection at the time the PA begins practice under supervision. Listing the PA’s name on the certificate verifies that the PA is indeed covered and authorized to perform the delegated duties. A $1,000,000 limit is a common minimum that provides a reasonable safety margin for potential malpractice claims, regardless of whether the policy is claims-made or occurrence; both forms are acceptable as long as the limit and coverage are in place.

The other options fail because they either deny the requirement for coverage, set a lower or incomplete limit, or leave the supervising physician uniquely covered while the PA is not.