ED Pay-for-Call Issue: What Hospital Executives Need to Know
Webinar

Another distance learning opportunity brought to you by MHA

Program Overview

In recent years, clinical call coverage agreements between hospitals and physicians have fundamentally changed due to a variety of demographic, strategic, and operational trends. The end result is that physicians are becoming less willing to provide coverage unless they are compensated for the time and inconvenience of being on call. Hospitals that resist physician demands to be paid risk the loss of coverage in critical specialties, as well as significant damage to medical staff relationships. On the other hand, if a hospital agrees to pay for on-call coverage in one specialty, the demand for payment can spread rapidly to other specialties. The call coverage issue is one that is often cited by hospital CEOs as a top emerging concern and one that has the potential to significantly reduce the bottom lines of their hospitals. However, because on-call payment issues are relatively new to hospitals, no clear standards exist regarding the types of coverage that should be compensated and how much compensation is appropriate. Further, most hospitals lack an effective call coverage strategy.

This presentation will outline the underlying drivers of increasing call coverage compensation pressures, discuss the results of several recent surveys, and describe several case studies of innovative approaches that hospitals should consider using to address their call coverage pressures.

Program Topics:

• Overview of the cause of increasing demands for call coverage compensation.
• Range of payment models and amounts currently being paid by hospitals around the country, including case studies of relevant approaches.
• Innovative approaches that can address legitimate hospital and physician needs while minimizing call coverage expenses.
• Core principles that hospitals should adhere to when designing a call coverage compensation plan.
• Key compliance risks associated with pay for call arrangements and the implication of the OIG's call coverage related advisory opinions.

AUDIENCE

CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, HR Director, Physician Services, Financial Services

FACULTY

Leonard J. Henzke has multiple years of experience as a healthcare consultant. His experience has focused on hospital/physician relationships, financial analysis, business development, and physician compensation planning. Mr. Henzke is a frequent speaker to state hospital associations and physician organizations on issues related to call coverage and hospital/medical staff relationships. Also, he has co-authored articles on topics such as physician call coverage.

James R. Dutro's law practice focuses on regulatory matters. James has extensive experience in structuring, negotiation, and implementing integrated health care delivery systems and other hospital-physician business transactions. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America (2009) survey in the health care law category and in the Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers (2007) and (2008) as a leading attorney in healthcare.

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