COVID-19 Page

OMIC has been monitoring the fast changing environment with regard to the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting governmental actions which are affecting ophthalmologists and their patients.

We are committed to supporting you, our insureds, through this challenging time. Thank you for your service to our communities through this crisis.

New >>COVID-19 FAQs_Sept2021_FINAL

OMIC COVID-19 Risk Management Advice

OMIC COVID-19 Sample Consent Form

OMIC COVID-19 Coverage Information

New >> OMIC Coverage for COVID Vaccinations

NEW >> Risk management considerations and sample patient consent form for administering COVID vaccines

OMIC News and COVID-19 Premium Credit

AAO and ASRS COVID-19 Resource Pages 

Telemedicine (eRisk) Resources

CDC Website and e-Bulletins

COVID Test Risk Management Recommendations

ROP and COVID-19

OMIC has received a number of calls about how to manage ROP screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the recommendations from the OMIC ROP Task Force. As always, use your professional judgment to determine the best way to proceed with any particular patient or situation.

• Consider ROP care as urgent and continue to provide it.
• Follow the usual guidelines in the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Ophthalmology Policy Statement (1) on who should be screened, timing and frequency of follow-up exams, and criteria for ending ROP screening.
• Provide care in your office, with as little exposure as possible from other patients, for infants already discharged from the NICU.
• Implement CDC recommendations and those of your local health department on social distancing and personal protective equipment.

Here is a link to the AAO’s ophthalmic-specific guidance on this: https://www.aao.org/headline/alert-important-coronavirus-context.

You may access the ROP Safety Net at http://www.omic.com/rop-safety-net/.

OMIC policyholders are encouraged to use our confidential Hotline. The fastest way to reach us is to contact our confidential Risk Management Hotline by mailing riskmanagement@omic.com or calling 800-562-6642, option 4.

(1) “Screening Examination of Premature Infants for Retinopathy of Prematurity.” Policy Statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Ophthalmology, the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Originally issued in 1997 and updated in 2001, 2005, and 2006; current version published in Pediatrics (Volume 131, Number 1, 2013, at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/189.

COVID-19 Information and Resources

OMIC’s Risk Management Department is monitoring the fast changing environment with regard to the COVID-19 outbreak and has created the following resources for our insureds.

Should I stop performing elective procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Safe Practices in the Office: COVID-19

OMIC Telephone screening of ophthalmic problems toolkit

ROP and COVID-19

>> OMIC COVID-19 Page.

Insureds please contact the Risk Management Hotline with questions involving HIPAA requirements, documentation, etc. Please contact your Underwriting Representative with any coverage questions.

Ryan Bucsi named Vice President, Claims

OMIC announced that Mr. Bucsi, who has served in several roles within the Claims Department for more than 15 years, will become the 2nd Claims VP in OMIC’s history. He has presided over the best performing period for OMIC insureds with regard to the most common claim defense benchmarks for our industry.

OMIC has a proven record of successfully defending ophthalmologists and has consistently outperformed the industry with respect to percentage of claims settled without a payment and average indemnity (when a settlement is required).

See more about OMIC’s superior record in defending ophthalmic malpractice claims and lawsuits here.

Ensure safe use of equipment