The AMA urges all third party payers to provide coverage at an appropriate payment level for physicians’ standby services when (1) the attending physician certifies that such standby services are medically necessary to the health or safety of the patient in surgery, and (2) the standby physician is providing such services to only one patient at a time and is either physically present in the operating suite or immediately available to monitor the patient’s condition, make medical judgments as to the patient’s needs, and furnish services as necessary.

Policy Timeline

CMS Rep. L, I-87 Reaffirmed: Sunset Report, I-97 Modified and Reaffirmed: CMS Rep. 9, A-07 Reaffirmed: CMS Rep. 01, A-17