Welcome to the MGMA Ask An Advisor Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, and joined by Cristy Good, Senior Advisor at MGMA. In this episode, we address one of the pressing challenges for medical practices: structuring on-call compensation effectively. This conversation dives into common models, compliance considerations, balancing workloads, and managing provider burnout. Medical practice leaders will find practical solutions and strategies to ensure fair, transparent, and market-aligned on-call practices, helping mitigate potential issues within their teams.

Key Takeaways:

• On-Call Compensation Models:
  • Daily Stipend: A common approach offering a fixed daily rate, typically ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.
  • Hourly Compensation: Payment based on active hours, providing flexibility but requiring close time tracking.
  • Productivity-Based Pay: Aligns compensation with volume or service type but can lead to variable income.
  • Minimum Guarantee: Ensures a base pay with a potential bonus for exceeding on-call demands.
  • Tiered Compensation: Adjusted rates for specific times or services, ideal for practices with diverse on-call needs.
• Ensuring Compliance and Fair Market Value:
  • Leverage MGMA DataDive for benchmarking compensation within specialties and regions.
  • Avoid arrangements that could imply incentivizing referrals, adhering to Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statutes.
  • Keep thorough documentation on call frequency, provider burden, and response requirements to support defensible compensation structures.
• Balancing On-Call Responsibilities:
  • Implement shared call models and clearly define call duties within provider agreements.
  • Encourage open communication among providers to discuss and address workload concerns.
  • Include flexibility by allowing providers to trade shifts, ensuring fair distribution across the team.
• Mitigating Provider Burnout:
  • Practices can bring in nocturnists or hospitalists for night and weekend shifts, reducing the strain on regular staff.
  • Openly address provider workload concerns, fostering a supportive environment for well-being.
• Resources and Links:
  • MGMA DataDive
  • Ask MGMA
  • Email Advisor@mgma.com for direct assistance and resources.

For more resources and direct assistance with your practice needs, check the episode show notes or visit MGMA’s website for insights on on-call compensation and other key topics.

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In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight, Daniel Williams, senior editor at MGMA, sits down with Adam Pople, HRMC, FMC, FACMPE, practice administrator at Cape Girardeau Surgical Clinic. Adam shares his experiences and insights from attending the MGMA Leaders Conference, discussing the key challenges he faces in his role and the strategies he employs to drive success and innovation in medical practice management.

Main Points:

1. Leveraging the MGMA Leaders Conference: Adam discusses his goals for attending the conference, including networking, learning new tools and strategies, and staying up-to-date on industry changes. He highlights an impactful session on addressing the psychology behind staff and physician burnout.
2. Navigating Scarce Resources and Burnout: As a seasoned practice administrator, Adam identifies the critical challenges of managing limited funds amidst declining reimbursements and rising costs, as well as the ongoing issue of employee burnout. He emphasizes the importance of creative problem-solving and re-engaging staff to improve overall practice performance.
3. Balancing Planned and Spontaneous Learning: Adam shares his approach to planning conference sessions, striking a balance between must-attend topics and openness to new learning opportunities that can provide valuable insights.
4. The Rewards of Mentorship: Adam discusses his valuable experiences as both a mentee and mentor in the MGMA mentorship program, highlighting the rewards of supporting the professional development of others and the mutual benefits of these collaborative relationships.

MGMA Resources:

• MGMA Stat
• Ask MGMA
• MGMA Conferences
• MGMA Consulting

We Want to Hear From You:

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:

• Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.com
• Ryan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.com
• Colleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com

Thank you for tuning in to the MGMA Podcast Network. Please subscribe and leave us a review. See you next time!