title: OIG advisory opinion clarifies some call issues.
abstract: Although the advisory opinion issued by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) specifically states it only applies to the pay-for-call arrangement at one hospital, experts say the ED manager can use the opinion to establish bench-marks for their own on-call arrangements. * At the very least, the OIG has made it clear that paying for on-call coverage is not in and of itself a violation of any statutes. * Any per diem rates paid to ensure that specialists agree to take call must be "reasonable" and meet "fair market value." * The fact that the specialists also may be paid for the services they provide may not necessarily mean your arrangement is improper.
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D019985:Benchmarking; D004470:Economics, Medical; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D012308:Risk Management; D013038:Specialization; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services