This position paper has not been universally well received. They have established indications, limitations, and documentation requirements. Claims for postoperative co-management are not covered when the surgeon is available and able to manage other patients postoperatively surgeon performs postoperative care but splits the fee with the referring physician surgeon is coerced by the referring physician transfer to the receiving doctor is not in writing transfer is used as an incentive for referrals patient did not consent to transfer. These criteria are not national policy but do represent the attitude of these carriers toward postoperative co-management. Other carriers may follow suit.
All states have specific statutes and regulations governing the practice of medicine and optometry.
It is important to consider these rules and laws before establishing a co-management protocol. Following are the suggested and required steps to make this process as safe as possible. A record of the patient's request for shared postoperative care is an effective method of complying with statutes and regulations and is mandated by some carriers. It is unwise to establish a transfer agreement between the surgeon and the receiving doctor without obtaining the patient's consent in advance. It is clearly defined that the transfer of a patient from the surgeon back to the optometrist should occur only when it is clinically appropriate.