Patient Inability to Pay: Managing the Risks
December 7, 2022
Dear OMIC Insureds:
Ophthalmologists sometimes encounter situations in which a patient cannot pay their deductible, coinsurance, and/or co-pays. This creates a range of risk management concerns, from handling a patient who declines care because of an inability to pay, to deciding whether terminating the relationship with the patient is appropriate. OMIC’s risk management resource, Termination of Care for Financial Reasons, provides guidance on how to evaluate reasons for non-payment, steps needed to terminate the relationship if deemed necessary, and sample letters to support communication and documentation of the process.
This resource also emphasizes the importance of communicating financial obligations to patients at the outset of treatment. For example:
- Notify new patients that it is their responsibility to pay for care.
- Explain that if they have insurance of any kind, including from the federal or state government, you are obligated by law and contracts to collect any deductible or co-payment at the time of service.
- Ask patients to speak to your billing manager if they need assistance in coordinating payment from an insurance company or making a payment plan or have difficulty making their co-payment or deductible.
If you have questions, contact us for confidential risk management advice at riskmanagement@omic.com or 1-800-562-6642, enter 4 for OMIC Risk Management.
Sincerely,
Jane Mock, CPHRM
OMIC Risk Manager
Bevacizumab Biosimilars
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Refractive Surgery Recommendations (2022)
| October 10, 2022
Dear OMIC Insureds: We have updated our Risk Management Recommendations for Refractive Surgery: https://www.omic.com/refractive-surgery-recommendations-2022/. Intraocular refractive surgery with IOL poses a higher risk for patients than refractive procedures performed on the corneal surface. These patients tend to have high expectations and pay for these procedures out-of-pocket, which can heighten the likelihood of dissatisfaction and professional liability lawsuits. If you have questions about these recommendations, or would like to have a confidential risk management consultation, please contact us at riskmanagement@omic.com or 1-800-562-6642, enter 4 for Risk Management. Sincerely, Linda Harrison, PhD __________ |
Providing Medical Care, Services or Products to Employees
September 1, 2022
Dear OMIC Insureds:
Physicians may treat their employees. There are patient safety and professional liability risks, however, if the physician does not provide medical care and services to employee patients in the same manner as any other patient. The linked document will examine the risks posed by your action, and provide recommendations on how to minimize them.
Click on this link:
Providing Medical Care, Services, or Products to Employees
If you have questions, contact us for confidential risk management advice at riskmanagement@omic.com. Or call us at 1-800-562-6642, enter 4 for Risk Management.
Sincerely,
Hans K. Bruhn, MHS
OMIC Risk Manager
Giant Cell Arteritis: Delayed diagnosis and treatment
August 17, 2022
Dear OMIC Insureds:
OMIC is pleased to announce the release of our newest Digest:
Giant Cell Arteritis: Delayed diagnosis and treatment
- Highlights recent claims data, explores new case studies, and offers risk management recommendations
- Gives you links to practical GCA risk management tools:
- Updated GCA Checklist
- New GCA Patient Information Sheet with Consent to/Refusal of Treatment
- Includes news from OMIC’s Chair, Dan Briceland, MD
- Provides updated information about liability and coverage issues related to patient falls
If you have questions, contact us for confidential risk management advice at riskmanagement@omic.com. Or call us at 1-800-562-6642, enter 4 for Risk Management.
Sincerely,
Jane Mock, CPHRM
OMIC Risk Manager
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