Chelle Law

When you leave a job, whether you resign, are terminated, retire, or move to a new practice, one of the most important, and often overlooked, questions is: Who pays physician malpractice tail? That single clause in your employment agreement can expose you to tens of thousands of dollars in liability or protect you from future claims tied to care you gave years earlier. This article gives you a clear, practical guide to tail coverage: what it is, who typically pays, how costs are calculated, alternatives, the role of state law, and concrete steps to protect yourself before you walk out the door. Key Takeaways Physician malpractice tail (extended reporting period) is necessary when you had a claims‑made policy and leave employment because it lets you report claims filed after your policy ends for care given while insured. Who pays depends on your contract: employers often fund tail for involuntary terminations or retirement after tenure, while physicians and independent contractors usual...

If you’ve signed a physician employment agreement that included a signing bonus, or you’re negotiating one now, you’re probably wondering: do physicians repay signing bonuses? The short, realistic answer is: sometimes. Whether you’ll have to repay depends on the contract language, why the relationship ends, and the laws where you practice. This article walks you through the typical triggers for repayment, the clause language to watch for, defenses you can raise, negotiation and drafting strategies to limit risk, and practical steps to take if you receive a repayment demand. Think of this as a lawyer’s field guide to signing bonuses, clear, practical, and aimed at helping you avoid unpleasant surprises and costly disputes. Key Takeaways Physicians can be required to repay signing bonuses, and whether you must repay signing bonuses depends on the contract language, reason for the separation, and applicable state law. Common repayment triggers include leaving ...

When you decide to leave a medical job, sell your practice, or wind down a panel of patients, one practical question dominates: how much notice must you give? That question matters more than you might think. The amount of notice affects your legal exposure, your relationship with colleagues, your patients’ continuity of care, and sometimes whether you keep a portion of the money you’ve earned. Whether you’re an employed physician, an independent contractor, a partner in a group, or the owner of a practice, the answer usually isn’t a single bright-line rule, it’s a mix of contract terms, hospital bylaws, state law, payer rules, and ethical duty. This article walks you through what typically controls notice requirements, common notice periods you’ll encounter, the legal and regulatory obligations that can raise the stakes, ethical duties to patients, practical steps for giving notice, common disputes, and how to negotiate stronger exit terms. Read this ...