The HHS Office of Inspector General has condemned gain-sharing arrangements between hospitals and physician groups as being in violation of the civil monetary penalty section of the Social Security Act. Several physician-hospital partnering models, however, are not restricted by the OIG, though arrangements based on these models must be structured carefully so as not to run afoul of other Federal regulations. These models include consultation, program reinvestment, payer contracting, equity/joint ventures, and quality incentive programs.