Last day doing surgery at Huggins Hospital, October 2106.
Since 1986, I practiced ophthalmology in Wolfeboro with an occurrence malpractice insurance policy from the NHMMJUA. In 2015, our legislature passed HB 508, closing the NHMMJUA. The reasons behind this were reasonable, and they did consider the consequences for physicians nearing retirement age. However RSA 404-C:15 (e) makes provision only for physicians with a claims made policy. No provision whatsoever was made for physicians, like myself, with an occurrence policy. I have asked several legislators how this happened -- the best answer I have received is "unintended consequences."
So I was forced to choose one of the following:
1) Find another insurer who will issue me an occurrence policy. (Insurers don't do so any more; I have futilely looked anyway.)
2) Switch to a claims made policy, and have to pay for an expensive "tail" when I retire. (This is not sensible at my age.)
3) Find someone who will buy my practice and employ me. (Possible, but they don't want to pay the "tail" either.)
4) Retire on or before the end of November 2016 and start another career.
Obviously it would be difficult to represent you well in Concord while simultaneously continuing my solo practice in Wolfeboro as an ophthalmologist. Furthermore, other changes -- reimbursement changes under the Affordable Care Act and MACRA; the mandate to adopt EMRs and achieve "Meaningful Use" -- have made continuing in solo private practice no longer a viable option.
Continuity of care for my patients and my community is important to me. Therefore I sold my practice to Laconia Eye and Laser effective December 1, 2016. Wolfeboro will be their third office -- they already have offices in Gilford and Plymouth. Laconia Eye Optical had been managing the optical business in my office since May 2016.
I want to thank my patients and their families for their loyalty over the last 30 years, and I look forward serving you as your Representative.
So I was forced to choose one of the following:
1) Find another insurer who will issue me an occurrence policy. (Insurers don't do so any more; I have futilely looked anyway.)
2) Switch to a claims made policy, and have to pay for an expensive "tail" when I retire. (This is not sensible at my age.)
3) Find someone who will buy my practice and employ me. (Possible, but they don't want to pay the "tail" either.)
4) Retire on or before the end of November 2016 and start another career.
Obviously it would be difficult to represent you well in Concord while simultaneously continuing my solo practice in Wolfeboro as an ophthalmologist. Furthermore, other changes -- reimbursement changes under the Affordable Care Act and MACRA; the mandate to adopt EMRs and achieve "Meaningful Use" -- have made continuing in solo private practice no longer a viable option.
Continuity of care for my patients and my community is important to me. Therefore I sold my practice to Laconia Eye and Laser effective December 1, 2016. Wolfeboro will be their third office -- they already have offices in Gilford and Plymouth. Laconia Eye Optical had been managing the optical business in my office since May 2016.
I want to thank my patients and their families for their loyalty over the last 30 years, and I look forward serving you as your Representative.