The role of the billing function in physician practices is critical-- so critical that many groups do not trust themselves to do it effectively. They outsource this role. Hospitals are increasingly doing the same thing. The billing function is also essential in emerging transactions such as leasing a practice to a health system, private equity management contracts, MSOs and more.  In her article "Billing Company Contracts: Accountability and Pitfalls" Alice elucidates who does this work, explores and challenges the traditional compensation model for these tasks and offers an alternative approach.  She addresses performance metrics to be considered, and then dissects the allocation of responsibilities to be set forth in these agreements. She further assesses the implications of the Medicare reassignment rules, the OIG's Model Compliance Guidance and its import, and then presents information on what happens when things go wrong.  This little addressed area of the law merits significantly more attention than it has gotten to date.