RT Journal
A1 Foels TJ, Terranova MD
T1 After-hours telephone triage: Reducing the financial burden
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2004
FD February 1
VO 158
IS 2
SP 185
OP 186
DO 10.1001/archpedi.158.2.186-a
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.158.2.186-a
AB 
I am pleased to report that some payers have answered the challenge. In 1994, Independent Health Association (a regional health plan based in Buffalo, NY), in partnership with local pediatricians, family practitioners, and internists, established a 24/7 telephone triage call center (Night Call, PC). Since its inception, Night Call has successfully handled more than 600 000 calls for 250 physician offices. Independent Health fully subsidizes the cost of all after-hours calls made by Independent Health members and, in addition, partially underwrites the cost for calls made by members of competing health plans. Direct physician contribution remains small and affects only those patients whose health plans have failed to step up to the plate with financial support.