Our network doctors must maintain malpractice insurance coverage, in individual or group coverage, in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate. However, if a doctor participates in an active state patient compensation fund or excess liability program and meets that particular state’s fund/program requirements, that doctor will be exempt from maintaining VSP’s malpractice insurance coverage requirements. Doctors must notify us within 10 days of any lapse in professional or general liability insurance coverage and indemnify us against damage or claims stemming from a lack of insurance coverage. Insurance verification is done during the credentialing and recredentialing processes.

Our network doctors must be licensed and in good standing as optometrists or ophthalmologists in the state(s) where they practice. We verify state licenses, state-controlled substance licenses (CDS) and federally controlled substance certificates (DEA) during the credentialing and recredentialing processes.

Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) Certification: Optometrists

Optometrists must be fully licensed and TPA certified.

Board Certification: Ophthalmologists

All ophthalmologists must be board-certified by either the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), or the American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology Certificate of Specialization (AOBOO).

A certificate from the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery isn’t acceptable.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Requirements

Ophthalmologists must maintain current authorization to prescribe medication following federal DEA and state requirements in each state where they see patients. In some states, optometrists must have current DEA licenses to get or maintain TPA certification and prescribe medicine to the fullest extent of that certification.