I am pleased to post this 2022 year-end review to keep our policyholders informed about our activities, insurance programs, and plans going forward. We hope you will take a moment to read this brief summary.
- Telepsychology Competencies Credential (TCC): TCC is an educational platform we developed with our partner, the National Register, that enables providers to achieve proficiency in the most common elements of telepsychological practice. From the basics of secure, HIPAA-compliant internet usage to advanced topics on telepsychological service provision to high-risk and other special populations, the Telepsychology Competencies Credential (TCC) is designed to equip those beginning telepsychological practice with a necessary foundation for safe and effective practice, while also supplementing the knowledge for more experienced providers of telepsychological services.
To get your TCC, simply complete the required number of core and elective units. Those completing the TCC coursework and passing the appropriate exams can earn a minimum of 22 CE hours, and because you can choose to view all elective content, you may receive substantially more continuing education credit for no additional cost (41 CE hours maximum)! The cost of the TCC is only $350. Trust policyholders and National Register members receive a special price of $250 for the entire series – a $100 savings from the non-insured/member rate! For more information, visit https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Independent-Learning/Telepsychology-Competencies-Credential.
- Risk Management Training Curriculum: We developed a Risk Management Training Curriculum to help fill in the gaps of what is learned in the classroom and complement what is taught to help demystify the challenging areas that often come up for new psychologists. Complimentary access to this valuable resource is included with every student and pre-licensure liability insurance policy upon request. This curriculum is also available free of charge to educators to incorporate into their clinical programs. For more information, visit https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Independent-Learning.
- Leadership Development Academy (LDA) pilot: The Trust SPTA Advisory Council has developed and launched a Leadership Development Academy (LDA) 12-month pilot program. When completed, the program will include webinars on Leadership and a guide for developing and implementing an LDA in any state and will include resources such as templates and guidelines for individual SPTAs to tailor their own programs.
- No Surprises Act (NSA) Roundtable: There has been significant confusion and understandable frustration about the No Surprises Act (NSA) that took effect on January 1, 2022. We have a Risk Management Roundtable, which focuses specifically on the NSA and includes questions from a live audience. The on-demand webinar is free to Trust policyholders and provides 1 hour of CE. To view it on-demand, visit https://thetrust.learnupon.com/store/2611552-no-surprises-act-roundtable.
- Forensics Roundtable: Despite the oftentimes intentional effort to avoid legal entanglements, many psychologists will encounter situations that require them to interface with the legal system (e.g., subpoenas for records, requests for testimony or third-party letters, clients involved in lawsuits unrelated to treatment, custody/divorce battles). Such situations not only raise clinician anxiety, but also present potential risks for psychologists and clients alike. We presented a Risk Management Roundtable which focuses specifically on these challenging situations and provides clear risk management strategies for successfully managing such stressful circumstances. The on-demand webinar is free to Trust policyholders and provides 1 hour of CE. To view it on-demand, visit https://thetrust.learnupon.com/store/2667904-forensic-tips-for-the-practicing-psychologist-roundtable.
- Live and On-Demand Webinars: The Trust continues to grow its library of live and on-demand webinars, with the Risk Management Roundtables available free of charge to policyholders and the other programs available for a nominal fee. This series was first developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support clinicians. Due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback, the series has grown to be an excellent resource for psychologists covering various topics – from telehealth and risk management to societal issues and clinician self-care.
In 2022 we held 4 Risk Management Roundtables, 4 Telehealth Community Chats, 1 We Hold These Truths on transgender health, a 3-part series on HIPAA, and two partnered webinar series with ABPP on military cultural competence and parenting plan evaluation. The live presentations are free to Trust policyholders and provide 1-2 hours of CE. All events will continue to be recorded and made available on-demand for free or a nominal fee on The Trust's learning management system, LearnUpon. These programs have been highly successful, highly rated, and have reached thousands of psychologists. To view them on-demand, visit https://thetrust.learnupon.com, or to register for a future live webinar, visit https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Workshops-Webinars/Live-Webinars.
- Risk Management Roundtables: The Risk Management Roundtables consist of several Trust Risk Management Consultants discussing and advising about ethical and risk management issues. Participants are encouraged to raise their own questions and concerns for discussion.
- Telehealth Community Chats: Telehealth Community Chats are presented by Trust Telehealth Consultants, Dr. Margo Adams Larsen and Dr. Sara Smucker Barnwell. The Chats focus on the practical “how to” questions related to telehealth, and span themes such as clinical practice, ethical considerations, technical considerations, and risk management.
- We Hold These Truths: This series examines how societal issues have historically and continuously impacted people due to their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective. The first part of the series focused on how racial injustice, movements for racial equity, health disparities, and adverse experiences due to systemic racism have historically impacted communities of color. Our panel of experts offers perspectives on how the field of psychology has traditionally addressed these issues and discusses how the rise of the social justice movement has impacted psychology's current response to these issues. As mentioned previously, we have an upcoming webinar on transgender health. Additional programs are in development.
- HIPAA Webinar Series: These three 1-hour webinars, instructed by Stacey Larson, J.D., Psy.D., provide insights to healthcare providers who handle electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) and are required to be compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules.
- ABPP Webinar Series: The Trust has partnered with ABPP to offer these two informative webinars:
- Parenting Plan Evaluations: Guidelines and Best Practices with an Emphasis on Cases Involving Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) with Philip Stahl, Ph.D., ABPP.
- Military Cultural Competence: Providing Effective Assessment and Treatment with Carrie H. Kennedy, Ph.D., ABPP.
- Workshops: In conjunction with the state psychological associations, The Trust presented 40 webinars through 2022, 24 of which were 6-hour continuing education workshops conducted by Trust Risk Management Consultants (known as The Trust Advocates) who are licensed psychologists with extensive legal, ethical and risk management expertise. In 2023, The Trust is scheduled to present 13 (and counting!) workshops, which include virtual and in-person. The workshops offer CE credits for all psychologists and insurance premium discounts for those insured through The Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Insurance Program. For details, please visit https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Workshops-Webinars/Live-Workshops-Sequences.
- COVID-19 Resources for Practitioners: In our continued effort to support clinical psychologists during these challenging times, we created a page on The Trust's website dedicated to providing resources to clinicians. These resources include downloadable practice sample informed consent forms, multiple helpful FAQs, a list of links to our partners' pages, and a compilation of relevant on-demand webinars. To view and access these resources, please visit https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Resource-Center/COVID-19-Resources.
- Document Library & Quick Guides: The Trust continues to develop free documents, including sample contracts, FAQs, and informed consent forms, designed for psychologists in practice. In addition, we have documents and consent forms available in Spanish for practitioners. Recently added quick guides include information on the HIPAA Privacy Rule’s Patient Right of Access Provision and the HIPAA Security Rule. For access to these resources, visit https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Resource-Center/Document-Library-Quick-Guides.
- Continued Support of SPTAs: The Trust continues its commitment to our valued State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations (SPTAs). This partnership provides support for SPTAs, including the 49 that endorse The Trust.
- SPTA Executive Director Training: The Trust SPTA Advisory Council developed helpful resources for SPTAs and launched its first webinars in early 2021 that covered D & O insurance and marketing. These webinars were open to Executive Directors, officers, and their staff.
These are just the highlights! Thank you for being a part of The Trust Community. We continue to ensure that our motto, “For Psychologists, By Psychologists,” resonates in everything we do. And remember, we're about more than just insurance!
Best Regards,
Jana N. Martin, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
The Trust
The Trust and Trust Risk Management Services
The Trust remains a leading provider of insurance and risk management programs for psychologists, psychology students, and related individuals in the United States and continued to show growth in 2022. Our insurance programs include The Trust Sponsored Professional Liability Program and Business Office Insurance; financial security programs offering Life, Disability, Office Overhead, and Auto and Home Insurance; and other programs offering Long Term Care Insurance and Retirement Planning Services. Its risk management programs include the Advocate 800 Program’s consultation service, Ethics and Risk Management Continuing Education Workshops and Webinars, and independent learning publications.
The Trust’s Board of Trustees is composed of psychologists with strong ethics, practice, and business backgrounds, along with insurance industry professionals with expertise in malpractice, property and casualty, personal, and other lines of insurance protection. The psychologists are attuned to the discipline and profession; the insurance experts help design coverage that is innovative and broad; and all Trustees and staff work to keep The Trust’s insurance plans financially strong and competitive.
2022 Trustees
Jana N. Martin, Ph.D., CEO
Page B. Walley, Ph.D., Chair
Stephen E. Young, Vice Chair
Katherine C. Nordal, Ph.D., Member at Large
Josephine D. Johnson, Ph.D.
Fred Millán, Ph.D., ABPP, NCC
Gilbert H. Newman, Ph.D.
John P. Petrila, J.D.
Deborah K. Ropelewski, CPCU, AU, Are
Sara Smucker Barnwell, Ph.D.
Lori C. Thomas, J.D., Ph.D.
The Trust works with highly rated insurance companies to underwrite its insurance programs. The Trust Sponsored Professional Liability, Business Office and Cyber Enterprise Insurance Programs are underwritten by ACE American Insurance Company. In 2016, ACE acquired Chubb, creating the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, and adopted the Chubb name. The suite of financial security programs offering Group Term Life, Income Protection (Disability) and Office Overhead is underwritten by Lincoln Financial Group; Auto, Home and Renters Insurance is underwritten by Liberty Mutual; Long Term Care Insurance is brokered through Burling Insurance Group; and Retirement Planning Services are provided by UBS.
The Trust’s subsidiary, Trust Risk Management Services, Inc. (TRMS), acts as Broker and Administrator for The Trust’s Professional Liability, Business Office, and Directors and Officers lines of insurance. Brokerage and administration services include policy underwriting, issuance, and lifecycle management; customer service; and technical services. TRMS is fully licensed to do business in all jurisdictions.