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High liability insurance costs squeeze Wyoming adolescent residential providers, risking out-of-state placements
Summary
Providers told the task force that rising general liability and professional liability premiums — in one case a single-year premium exceeding $500,000 — make it harder for in-state residential programs to accept high-needs adolescents. Providers, DFS and legislators discussed state policy options but did not adopt a bill.
Residential providers, family-services leaders and youth-service advocates told the task force that rising liability insurance costs are narrowing the market of in-state beds for adolescents with severe behavioral needs, leaving some young people to wait in emergency departments or be placed out of state.
"They found the insurance. The unfortunate news is that cost skyrocketed. It was substantial, more than half a million dollars a year just for the the single year premium to be able to have those types of, clients inside their facility," Andy Somerville, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers, said of 1 provider's experience finding coverage.
Providers described three insurance-related problems: property insurance market reductions that affect many…
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