National Risk Retention Association Conference to Focus on Issues Affecting Purchasing Groups

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Jul 30, 2012) - The National Risk Retention Association (NRRA) will focus on issues affecting Purchasing Groups (PG) in its annual conference, October 9-11, 2012 in Washington, DC.

"PGs face many of the same regulatory and marketplace challenges as Risk Retention Groups (RRG)," said Sanford "Sandy" Elsass, NRRA Chairman, "so we're giving PGs priority attention in the conference program for the first time."

NRRA is celebrating its 25^th anniversary as the voice of the risk retention industry. The Association concentrated its agenda on issues facing RRGs over the years as the industry grew to more than 250 companies generating a total of over $2.5 billion in annual premium today. "This year, we're expanding our membership to include more PGs in recognition of our common interests," Elsass said.

Major sections of the three-day program will be devoted to PGs with panels on Marketing Strategies, How PGs Can Attract Insurance Carriers and Creative Reinsurance Strategies. Michael Schroeder, a leader in the PG industry and NRRA Director, will moderate the session. Mr. Schroeder is an attorney who specialized in laws relating to risk purchasing groups for over 25 years and serves as the Chairman of the Board for three of the largest purchasing groups in the United States.

RRGs and PGs were authorized under the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. RRGs are companies that write liability insurance. PGs are groups of insurance buyers who band together to buy liability insurance on a group basis from a qualified insurance company. Both are permitted to operate nationally with only limited regulation by other states when licensed and/or registered in a single state. 

The Conference will open with major sessions on Medical Professional Liability and State Legislative Challenges followed by a panel on What Constitutes Liability in Today's Healthcare Context and a session devoted to the Supreme Court Decision on the Affordable Care Act.

Risk management, claims, litigation, financial stability and other operational topics vital to RRGs and PGs will be covered by experts.

The Conference will be held at The Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, Washington, DC. Attendees can register online at www.riskretention.org.