NEWS ARCHIVE

Algona, IA – Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group (PMIG), a leading provider of commercial property and casualty insurance for pharmacies and specialty healthcare service providers, is pleased to announce a new organizational structure and leadership following its transition to a mutual holding company (MHC). This structure, effective January 1, 2026, includes two specialized branches: Read More »

Algona, IA – Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group is pleased to announce that AM Best Company* has affirmed its Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and its Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) of a- (Excellent). According to AM Best’s FSR scale, an Excellent rating reflects an insurer’s strong ability to meet its ongoing policy and contract obligations, a standard we remain committed… Read More »

Algona, IA – Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company today announced the appointment of Matthew Mosher, former President and CEO of AM Best Rating Services, Inc., to its Board of Directors. Mosher brings decades of leadership experience and deep industry understanding that will be instrumental in guiding Pharmacists Mutual’s continued growth and strategic direction. Read More »

Algona, IA – Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, a nationally recognized leader in commercial property and casualty insurance products for pharmacies and specialty healthcare service providers, is pleased to announce its restructuring into a limited mutual holding company (LMHC). The newly formed mutual holding company will be known as Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group. The conversion to an… Read More »

As you likely know, the Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) has recently determined the shortage of semaglutide injection products has resolved. The drug manufacturers have advised the FDA that their product availability and manufacturing capacity can meet the present and projected national demand. Pursuant to this determination, the FDA has announced that state-licensed pharmacies compounding… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual strives to provide peace of mind. If you need our help after the storm passes, rest assured we are here for you. Here is information on the storm and tips to help you prepare. Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 Pharmacists Mutual Community Pharmacy Scholarship. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding pharmacy students who are interested in serving in independent or small-chain community pharmacies as well as those students planning to work in underserved geographic areas. Read More »

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) has officially named Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group (PMIG) as its endorsed insurance carrier for members. This strategic partnership brings MPA members access to a wide range of insurance solutions tailored to the unique needs of pharmacy businesses and backed by PMIG’s 115 years of experience and commitment to pharmacy professionals. Read More »

PMC Advantage Insurance Services, Inc. (PMCA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, has closed an asset purchase transaction with Lansing, Michigan-based PSI Insurance Agency (PSIA), resulting in the sale of all renewal rights to PMCA by PSIA. The transaction is expected to result in over two million dollars in new business opportunities for PMCA over the next twelve… Read More »

While you’ve probably already considered how to make your pharmacy or retail location less attractive to burglars — by strengthening your windows, optimizing your alarms and cameras, and adding more external lighting, for example — you may be overlooking a key vulnerability in your physical security system: your building’s back door. Read More »

The Highway Loss Data Institute reports collisions with animals are more than twice as frequent as the yearly average during November when big bucks are searching for a mate.1 Often, they wander onto streets and highways in search of food, water, and shelter, either alone or in groups. Read More »

A small business faced a wrongful termination claim from a former employee who alleged discrimination based on age. The employee sought damages amounting to $250,000, which could have severely impacted the company’s finances. Fortunately, the business had Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI). The insurer covered the legal defense costs, which totaled approximately $50,000, allowing the… Read More »

Click here to read the fire safety alert in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Read More »

Read Time: 6 min Read More »

GLP-1 drugs seem to be on everyone’s mind and in the news pretty regularly. Compounding pharmacies have played a crucial role in providing these medications to patients, while the manufactured drugs have remained in shortage for many months. Pharmacists Mutual has seen claims against pharmacists and pharmacies for adverse reactions in patients and allegations in these claims include improper… Read More »

Susan Sutter to Assume Board Chair Read More »

Why Your Business Needs to Be Prepared for Civil Unrest & Riots Read More »

As a member of Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, you are invited to the annual meeting on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. The meeting agenda will include a member report, the election of Directors whose terms are expiring, and other matters as may properly come before the meeting, as specified in the Bylaws. Members may add business items to the agenda by written submission to the… Read More »

Click here to view the 2023 Annual Report. Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual strives to provide peace of mind. Realizing flooding may occur in many low-lying areas, be sure to park your vehicle in a location not subject to flooding. If you need our help after the storm passes, rest assured we are here for you. Read More »

The highlight of Louise’s week was driving to the local grocery store to do her shopping. Louise completed her weekly shopping every Tuesday at 9 A.M., like clockwork. Little did Louise know that this upcoming trip to the store would be her last trip by herself. Because of a slip and fall in the store, Louise broke her hip and is now in a rehab center, perhaps indefinitely. Read More »

Extreme cold temperatures are headed your way; now is the time to take steps to prevent freezing pipes and negative impacts on your fire suppression system. Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. You may be aware of the civil unrest affecting the Philadelphia area. During times like these, it is important to know that you have a trusted partner in Pharmacists Mutual. You should feel confident that we stand ready to respond to any hardship faced by you or your business. Read More »

DES MOINES REGISTER NAMES PHARMACISTS MUTUAL A WINNER OF THE IOWA TOP WORKPLACES 2023 AWARD Algona, IA – For the seventh consecutive year, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company has received a Top Workplaces 2023 honor. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company and PMC Advantage Insurance Services express their shared sense of loss, anger and grief at the murder of Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram. Officer Cram kept Iowa communities safe for over a decade, and made the ultimate sacrifice the night of September 13, 2023 in the service of where we all call home. We are forever grateful. The Pharmacists Mutual community… Read More »

Hurricane Preparedness Read More »

Algona, IA (July 24, 2023) – Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, the parent company of Chiron Insurance Company and PMC Advantage Insurance Services, Inc., announced July 21, 2023, that its Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Aaron Pearce as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Pearce, who currently serves as Vice President and General Counsel for a number of… Read More »

DIR (Direct and Indirect Remuneration) fees is a comprehensive term which covers charges made to pharmacies by Medicare Part D plans or PBMs outside of normal administration fees. The charges may be classified as service fees, network access fees, or they may even be tied to pharmacy performance quality measures. Read More »

Update – Friday, April 21, 2023 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 today to stay the entire order issued by Judge Kacsmaryk of Texas. This ruling overrules the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ order that partially stayed Kacsmaryk’s order. As a result, mifepristone’s status will remain unchanged until the Fifth Circuit hears the case and makes a ruling on the merits. The hearing is expected to be… Read More »

The recent Federal court rulings on the status of mifepristone may leave pharmacists wondering where they stand if they dispense mifepristone. The answer has been changing rapidly and may continue to do so. The answer may also depend on where the pharmacist practices. On April 7, 2023, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling… Read More »

Click here to view the 2022 Annual Report. Read More »

Ask any healthcare professional why they entered their field; the answer will likely be to help people. You probably will encounter few, if any, that will tell you it was to spend extra time charting. However, this documentation is crucial to the care we provide. There are three aspects when providing services in which accurate documentation is imperative. Read More »

Pharmacy Protests Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably. We stand opposed to any violence and destruction perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns we serve. We know you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation these past years. Knowing that… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably. We stand opposed to any violence and destruction that is perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns that we serve. We know that you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation these past years. It is… Read More »

The recently enacted Massachusetts law that expanded protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care primarily applies to health insurance. Still, a section of the law pertains to medical malpractice insurance that does impact pharmacists. Under the law, pharmacists may dispense emergency contraception, which is considered reproductive health care services. If a pharmacist dispenses… Read More »

The Des Moines Register names Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company a winner of the Iowa Top Workplaces 2022 Award Algona, IA – Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company received a Top Workplaces 2022 award by Iowa Top Workplaces for the sixth consecutive year. The award is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner… Read More »

School has started, and the air is getting chilly. In the pharmacy world, that means it is flu shot time! While pharmacy has been in immunization mode with COVID-19 for the past couple of years, this is a great time to review your policies and procedures for providing vaccines. The public health emergency declaration is still in effect, meaning there are fewer restrictions on who can provide… Read More »

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey. The ruling means laws regarding abortion revert back to the states. As practitioners who may encounter prescriptions for medication abortion that you understand the law and how it applies in your state. Some of you may not have any… Read More »

Hurricane Preparedness Read More »

Alert – Members in New Mexico Read More »

As a member of Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, you are invited to the annual meeting on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 9:00 a.m CDT. The meeting will be held virtually and at the home office at 808 Highway 18 West in Algona, Iowa. If you are interested in attending the virtual meeting, please register at AnnualMeeting.phmic.com by May 19, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. CDT. Read More »

Click here to read Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company’s 2021 Annual Report. Read More »

While health care professionals do not commonly face criminal charges for cases of negligence, the following cases show the possibility exists. For example, a nurse in Tennessee was recently convicted of gross neglect of an impaired adult and negligent homicide as a result of a medication error. The nurse intended to withdraw Versed® from a medication cabinet on the floor, but retrieved… Read More »

Malicious attacks on your business can cripple operations. With the recent tensions in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, those crippling effects are closer than you think. At Pharmacists Mutual, we take government warnings seriously and aim to circumvent any malicious attacks upon our members. Federal cybersecurity professionals have issued warnings to American businesses that we should all heed. Read More »

This is a reminder that SB 1159 as signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom remains in effect. Read More »

“Flash Mob” thefts are increasing in frequency at retail locations. Read More »

On Friday, December 10, the IT world discovered a substantial cyber security exploit that impacts nearly every company in the country regardless of size. The technical name is called Apache Log4j. It is essentially a door that is easy to open, allowing the cybercriminal to take full control of your systems. Read More »

What is a REMS? Read More »

November 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine. Read More »

30 Years Read More »

Did you know that pharmacies have provided more than 141 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines across the country as of early October? Last year, 48 million flu vaccines were given at pharmacies. As we continue to battle through the pandemic and this year’s flu season, it is important to be vigilant when providing multiple vaccines. There have been reports of mix-ups between COVID-19 vaccines and… Read More »

Contact: Lindsay Pilgrim lindsay.pilgram@phmic.com; 515-395-7277 www.phmic.com Read More »

Algona, IA – Pharmacists Mutual has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by Iowa Top Workplaces for the fifth consecutive year. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization:… Read More »

Tropical Storm Ida is currently in the Caribbean and expected to gain strength and become a hurricane this weekend. If it continues the predicted path, upper Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle could have impact. Read More »

Tropical Storm Henri is expected to gain strength and become a hurricane by Saturday. If it continues the predicted path, it could make a rare landfall in New York, Rhode Island or Massachusetts by Sunday. Risks of storm surge, wind, and rain impacts in portions of southern New England and eastern Long Island are increasing. As with any storm, the predicted path is subject to change, so you are… Read More »

Patty Elbert – In 1996, Patty joined Pharmacists Mutual as a Life/Health Account Admin. In 2001 she became a Coverage Advisor. In 2017 she was promoted to Coverage Advisor Manager where she remains today. Patty received the Quality Performance award in 1998 and 2002, the Gung Ho Award in 2010, Multi Line Producer Award in 2011, Coverage Advisor Sales Leader in 2014, Coverage Advisor of the Year… Read More »

Case study: A patient presents to the pharmacy for a COVID-19 vaccine. During the intake process, the pharmacist mistakenly pulls the Moderna vaccine for a 16-year-old patient. The error is discovered during the documentation process after the injection was given. What should the pharmacist do? Read More »

Another court ruling involving pharmacists’ duties in the dispensing of opioid prescriptions has been issued. Like the Ohio case referenced in September 2020, the latest ruling involves the idea of Red Flags and pharmacists’ duty to resolve them. Shortly after the Ohio decision, Walmart filed suit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Eastern District of Texas seeking a declaratory… Read More »

The Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP), which focuses enforcement efforts on industries that have the greatest number of workers at serious risk of contracting the coronavirus. These are temporary programs, short of issuing an emergency Covid-19 safety standard, which many thought would come after President Biden’s executive order on… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably. We stand opposed to any violence and destruction that is perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns that we serve. We know that you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation this past year. It is essential… Read More »