After hours for primary care physicians

To ensure continuous 24-hour coverage, primary care physicians (PCP) must maintain one of the following arrangements for their members to contact the PCP after normal business hours:

• Have the office telephones answered after-hours by an answering service, which can contact the PCP or another designated network medical practitioner. Have the office telephone answered after normal business hours by a recording in the language of each of the major population groups served by the PCP, directing the member to call another number to reach the PCP or another provider designated by the PCP. Someone must be available to answer the designated provider’s telephone; another recording is not acceptable.
• Have the office telephone transferred after office hours to another location where someone will answer the telephone and be able to contact the PCP or a designated Anthem network medical practitioner.