Risk Management
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Terminating Patients for Financial Reasons
February 7, 2024
Dear OMIC Insureds:
Hindsight is 20/20. What did we learn this past year? Patients who have high-deductible medical plans or are undergoing expensive treatment, such as intravitreal injections, may incur high unpaid balances due to delayed payments by the patient and third party payers. Some patients delay or avoid medical care altogether rather than resolve their financial obligations. Such delays may result in worsening or even loss of vision.
We’re often asked about the risks of terminating care for financial reasons. OMIC recommends the following:
- Ensure that acute conditions are stabilized, or that another ophthalmologist has agreed to take over care.
- Send the patient the 30-day notice warning of termination if payment is not received.
- Send the letter certified, and by regular mail as well, in case the patient is not home or refuses to sign for the certified letter.
Patients who delay medical care present a specific set of risks. Our risk management recommendations for terminating the physician-patient-relationship provide step-by-step instructions for you and your staff and sample letters to assist in the process.
If you have questions, contact us for confidential risk management advice at riskmanagement@omic.com or call us at 1-800-562-6642 and enter 4 for Risk Management.
Sincerely,
Hans K. Bruhn, MHS
OMIC Risk Manager
