National Risk Retention Association 25th Anniversary Conference to Confront Challenges Facing RRG Industry

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - Sep 12, 2012) - The National Risk Retention Association (NRRA) at its annual Conference October 9-11 in Washington will mark 25 years defending Risk Retention Groups (RRG) and Purchasing Groups (PG) against attempts by some state regulators to restrict their operations in violation of federal law.

"Our Association has won landmark cases in the federal courts upholding the right of RRGs to operate nationally when licensed in a single state, but some states continue to impose registration requirements, excessive fees and other limits on RRG authority -- actions that are not permitted under the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (LRRA), which preempts most regulation by non-domicile states," said Sanford Elsass, Chairman of NRRA.

Over the past 25 years, RRGs have grown into a major industry with more than 250 companies collectively generating over $2.5 billion premium. The PG sector also has grown dramatically to more than 850 PGs. "We'll continue to fight for legislation to put teeth in the federal law by amending the LRRA to include a dispute resolution mechanism that would relieve RRGs from having to seek relief in the federal courts when states impose unlawful restrictions on their operation," Elsass said. "The Conference will provide a forum for industry leaders to focus on ways to strengthen the RRG/PG industry in the years ahead," he declared.

Joe Garner, New York Times best-selling author will keynote the conference with insights gained in 15 years of chronicling the landmark moments in broadcast news, sports, television and film history. For the first time, the Conference will devote major sections of the three-day program to PGs. It will open with 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.nrra-usa.org.