Opinion ID: 1630837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Whether Dr. Harkey Received Compensation, Either Directly or Indirectly, from Clayton

Text: ¶ 15. Clayton argues that Dr. Harkey received compensation indirectly, at least, because the Medicaid fees paid on her behalf go to the operation of the medical school staff. She further argues that UMMC's requirement that Dr. Harkey procure individual liability insurance is inconsistent with the notion that he is an employee. ¶ 16. Nonetheless, the record reveals that Dr. Harkey was a full-time faculty member who received a fixed contractual salary, all of which was paid from funds controlled by UMMC. Dr. Harkey was not permitted to earn any income from the practice of medicine outside of his contract. Furthermore, the fact that a physician has acquired professional liability insurance is irrelevant to the inquiry as to whether a state employee enjoys immunity under the MTCA. See Knight v. McKee, 781 So.2d 121, 123 (Miss.2001).