title: Achieving compliance with medical call centers.
abstract: Providers that retain outside call centers for physician referral should take steps to ensure compliance with Federal and state antikickback statutes. The Federal antikickback statute implicates call centers that offer referral services. A Federal safe harbor permits arrangements between participants and a referral service under specified circumstances. State antikickback statutes and safe harbors may vary from those under Federal law. A provider may not escape responsibility for compliance by contracting with call-center vendors. Providers and call-center vendors should work together to understand and comply with relevant statutes.
authors.affiliation: bdarling@mailbmc.com
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D003284:Contract Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D005607:Fraud / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States