A newly revised Arbitration Agreement template is the first product being made available as part of the AHCA’s Professional Liability Toolkit.
The revision replaces earlier versions, dated 2002 and 2004, said a memo about the product from Dianne De La Mare, AHCA vice president of legal affairs.
“The association continues to assert that one of the best ways to avoid unnecessary and expensive litigation is to avoid court altogether”, the memo said. “Offering a voluntary arbitration agreement as part of an admissions agreement is a vital operational tool.
The toolkit is being developed by the Professional Responsibility Work Group which has been working with the AHCA staff “to create resources and tools to help the members prevent or prevail in litigation”, De La Mare said. While a comprehensive toolkit is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, the Work Group wants to share materials as soon as they become available.