Designation that a Medicare+Choice organization has been reviewed and determined “fully accredited” by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)–approved accrediting organization for those standards within the deeming categories that the accrediting organization has the authority to deem.
Insurance Encyclopedia
Deemed wage credits
See: noncontributory wage credits .
Deemer clause
Law that if an insurance policy is filed with an insurance department that it is considered approved after a specific period of time unless the Insurance Commission gives a disapproval notice.
Deeming authority
Power granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to accrediting organizations to determine, on CMS’s behalf, whether a Medicare+Choice evaluated by the accrediting organization is in compliance with corresponding Medicare regulations.
Deeming clause
A part of the notification clause of a claims-made policy. It provides that when a circumstance is notified in one year but the claim not made until a subsequent year, it will be deemed to be made in the year of notification. See LAUNDRY LIST.
Deep Pocket Syndrome
A situation where claims are made based on the ability of the defendant to pay rather on share of blame. An injured party will try to blame the party with the greatest wealth (i.e., deepest pocket) where there is more than one potential defendant. Example: A & B are jointly liable for an injury; A was 90% negligent and B was 10% negligent, but A has no assets; the claimant is permitted to reach into the “deep pockets” of B for the full amount of the award against A & B.
Deep pocket theory
Where the claimant can seek damages from more than one defendant, the claimant chooses the defendant with the greatest ability to pay, i.e. the one with ‘deepest pocket’ The choice of defendant is often influenced by the insurance position.
Deep pockets liability (Legal Terminology)
Another term for a legal concept known as joint-and-several liability. This states that damages can be obtained from co-defendants based on who is capable of paying, rather than who was found to be more negligent.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Potentially fatal formation of blood clot within a deep vein, usually in the lower limbs. Limited movement in cramped conditions, e.g. long haul flight conditions, appear to be the main cause. Air passengers making personal injury claims have to overcome the Warsaw Convention that limits compensation to ‘accidents. There is no definitive answer in English law as to whether DVT is caused by an ‘accident’. Adopting the approach in Air France v. Saks (1985), a US case, a High Court decision (2002) held DVT not to be an accident for the purpose of the Convention.
DEF
One of the abbreviation symbols used in the diagnostic code book titled International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) . It indicates a definition of disease or procedural term in the descriptions of the diagnoses.