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Last revised: 11/12/2025

ABSA

Introducing the PICA Annual Baseline Self-Assessment

The Future of Risk Management & Your Premium Credit in 2026

PICA insureds who renew January 1, 2026, and thereafter, will have a new way to assess risk at their podiatric medical practice – and a new way to earn risk management premium credit. We are excited to introduce the Annual Baseline Self-Assessment (ABSA). This assessment will be a way to earn risk management premium credit at no additional cost.

To receive risk management premium credit for your 2026 policy, you may receive up to a 10% premium credit by completing any one of the following options – or up to a 15% premium credit by completing any two of the following options:

  1. Take the online Annual Baseline Self-Assessment at no additional cost (a link to the assessment will be emailed directly to you prior to your renewal).
  2. Purchase and complete the PICA 2026 Risk Management Program from CME Online for $99 (purchase this program here).
  3. Attend one of the live PICA Risk Management programs in 2026 (see conference schedule here).

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Annual Baseline Self-Assessment (ABSA)?
The ABSA is a brief online assessment taken by the DPM (and staff, if appropriate) to earn a risk management premium credit. It evaluates common areas of risk that can impact a podiatric medical practice, including diagnostic testing, informed consent, emergency preparedness, and documentation.
What is the purpose of this assessment?

The purpose of this assessment is to provide a new way to earn risk management premium credit at no additional cost. Additionally, it will help us identify areas of potential risk so we can improve our educational offerings in the future. The results help us identify gaps in knowledge so we can provide more customized educational opportunities to minimize liability risk. The results also allow for benchmarking opportunities, revealing data on how your peers perform in these areas.

Why are you doing this assessment?

We are doing this assessment to simplify risk management premium credits, improve risk management education, and enhance customer experience. Introducing this assessment to our insureds is a reflection of our commitment to providing more flexible, accessible, and impactful risk management education that better fits the diverse schedules and learning preferences of today’s podiatrists. Our main goal is to help strengthen patient safety, improve outcomes, and reduce exposure in the most effective ways possible.

When will the assessment be available to complete?

The assessment will be available to PICA insureds with a renewal date of 1/1/2026 and thereafter. Only policyholders with a renewal date of 1/1/2026 and forward will be eligible to take the assessment for risk management premium credit.

What options do I have for getting my risk management premium credit in 2026?

PICA insureds who renew January 1, 2026, and thereafter, may receive up to a 10% premium credit by completing any one of the following options – or up to a 15% premium credit by completing any two of the following options:

  1. Take the online Annual Baseline Self-Assessment at no additional cost.
  2. Purchase and complete the PICA 2026 Risk Management Program from CME Online for $99.
  3. Attend one of the following live PICA Risk Management programs in 2026*:
    • NY Clinical 2026
    • FL Scientific Annual Meeting (SAM) 2026
    • The Midwest Foot and Ankle Conference 2026 (formerly the Midwest Podiatry Conference)
    • No-Nonsense 2026
    • Ohio Foot and Ankle Virtual Day 2026
    • The Western 2026
    • Texas Southwest Foot and Ankle 2026
    • PA Goldfarb 2026
  4. Attendees for APMA The National and ACFAS will receive a link to an online course.

Up to 15% is the maximum premium credit allowed during the policy period.

*For 2026 in-person lectures, this list is subject to change, pending mutual agreement with association and/or the scientific chair.

As a reminder, you have up to 30 days past your renewal date to complete risk management for your risk management premium credit to apply to your renewal term.

Who can take the assessment?

The DPM will need to take the assessment to receive risk management premium credit. Additional staff members at a practice can also complete this helpful risk management assessment if they choose to do so. For large groups, the entire team at the group practice may be asked to take the assessment.

Only policyholders who renew 1/1/2026 and later will be eligible to take the assessment for risk management premium credit.

I’m part of a group practice – will I be able to take the assessment?
It depends. We have different agreements in place with our group practice customers. The risk management program and approach will vary based on the needs of the group and the size of the group. For further details, please contact your agent or broker or your PICA account manager.
I am a new policyholder with PICA – will I be able to take the assessment?

No. New policyholders to PICA will have the opportunity to take an online course to receive up to a 15% risk management premium credit. At your renewal the following year, you will be able to take the assessment if you choose to do so.

I am a new practitioner – will I be able to take the assessment?

No. If you are new to practice or a resident, you will have the opportunity to take an online course to receive up to a 15% risk management premium credit.

How can I take the assessment?

The assessment will be available as a link, sent to you via email from PICA.

Will I receive CE credit for the assessment?
No, the assessment is not eligible for CE credit. You can find webinars on the PICA website that may be eligible for CE credit; however, they are not eligible for a risk management premium credit.
How much will it cost to take the assessment? Is there a fee?
The assessment is available for you to take at no additional cost. We are not charging a fee.
How long will the assessment take?
Up to 30-45 minutes.
Is the assessment required?
No, it is optional; however, you will need to complete it to be eligible for the maximum risk management premium credit available to you.
What are the benefits of taking the assessment?
Identify areas of risk at your practice, assist PICA with creating better educational offerings to target risk areas, and earn your risk management premium credit. Additionally, with a better understanding of what puts your practice at risk, you can improve defensibility in the event of a claim – and practice better medicine.
I work at multiple locations, how should I respond on the assessment?

If you are a provider at multiple locations, please identify which location where you see patients most often, and select the responses that best represents your primary practice setting.

What results will I receive after completing the assessment?
You will receive a quarterly email with updates on risk management trends that emerge based on responses provided in the assessment, as well as risk management educational resources that address these trends. The trends will be based on responses collected from all participants, not just your practice.
What do you do with the data provided in the assessment answers?
We will evaluate the results and identify educational opportunities that emerge from responses. The results will be used to tailor risk management education to the most acute needs so that we can help prevent problems proactively. By collecting actual information about the current landscape of podiatric medicine, we can better protect our customers by helping them to prevent claims and lawsuits, while also improving patient outcomes.
Is the assessment anonymous?
While not anonymous, the information obtained will not be linked to policy information. Participation in the ABSA is designed to support risk awareness and continuous improvement across practices.

 

Instructions for Taking the ABSA

  1. Receive a link to take the Annual Baseline Self-Assessment.
    A link to the assessment will be sent via email from PICA approximately 60-90 days prior to your renewal date. The link will be sent to the PICA policyholder using the primary email address we have on file. Only policyholders with a 1/1/2026 renewal date and forward are eligible to take the ABSA.
  2. Complete the assessment and submit your responses.
    The link will take you to the assessment page with questions and answers to select. Complete the required fields and submit the assessment. This will take up to 30-45 minutes to finish. You will verify that your responses are accurate and true to the best of your knowledge.
  3. OPTIONAL: Forward the link to staff at your practice.
    You are welcome to forward the link to all individuals in your office who are interested in participating in the assessment. Their participation is encouraged, but does not impact your risk management premium credit. As the DPM, you are the only one who will be required to complete the assessment to receive risk management premium credit.
  4. Receive confirmation of completion.
    Receive a confirmation email that your responses have been documented and your participation has been noted for the risk management premium credit. This email will also include a link to an online program which can be purchased via CME Online for $99 to receive additional risk management premium credit.
  5. Review trends and insights to improve risk awareness at your practice.
    On a quarterly basis, you will receive an update on assessment insights. This is not specific to you or your practice, but will include general trends gathered from assessment data, as well as educational resources that help mitigate risk in the areas identified.
NOTE: Premium credits are subject to approval by the state insurance department and are applied at policy renewal. Up to 15% is the maximum premium credit allowed during the policy period.

Disclaimer: All information contained on this page is subject to change.