Company: WW
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000950170-25-029511
Chunk: 97

Company: WW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 97
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 state laws that employ or contract with healthcare professionals in one or more states to provide telehealth services (collectively, “PCs”). We are dependent on our relationships with the PCs, which we do not own, and our business would be adversely affected if those relationships were disrupted. We and the PCs may suffer losses or reputational harm from medical malpractice liability, professional liability or other claims against the healthcare professionals employed by, or contracting with, us, the PCs or a clinical staffing agency engaged by the PCs (the “Affiliated Professionals”). Affiliated Professionals may provide inappropriate medical treatment, fail to follow procedures or guidelines, submit insurance claims without required and appropriate documentation, engage in services outside the scope of their practice, or engage in unprofessional conduct or other activities that could lead to claims, significant defense costs, reputational harm, negative publicity, increased scrutiny by regulators and payors, or other risks, which may adversely affect our business. We and/or the PCs may be unable to obtain or maintain adequate insurance against these claims. Healthcare professionals providing telehealth services have become subject to a number of lawsuits alleging malpractice and some of these lawsuits may involve large claims and significant defense costs. It is possible that these claims could also be asserted against us and potential litigation may include us as an additional defendant. Any suits against us, the PCs or the Affiliated Professionals, if successful, could result in substantial damage awards to the claimants that may exceed the limits of any applicable insurance coverage. Although we do not control the practice of telehealth by the PCs and the Affiliated Professionals, it could be asserted that we should be held liable for malpractice of a healthcare professional employed or contracted by a PC.

In addition, we and the PCs could incur reputational harm or negative publicity in relation to a material malpractice or care-related event involving an Affiliated Professional. Malpractice lawsuits and claims can also lead to increased scrutiny by state regulators. In addition, some plaintiffs have asserted allegations of corporate practice of medicine in connection with malpractice lawsuits. There can be no assurance that a future claim or claims will not be successful. Malpractice insurance, moreover, can be expensive and varies from state to state and there can be no assurance that malpractice insurance will be available to us or the PCs or the Affiliated Professionals at an acceptable cost or at all.

Successful malpractice claims asserted against us or the PCs or the Affiliated Professionals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, our inability to obtain adequate insurance may also