On October 22, 2019, CMS and OIG (Office of Inspector General) released new proposed rules regarding Stark Law Exceptions and Anti-Kickback Safe Harbors in response to what has universally been christened as the “Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care”, first announced by HHS in June of 2018.

As background, please remember that, although the Anti-Kickback Safe

In July 2015, CMS released proposals to provide several new Stark Law exceptions and to clarify issues regarding existing exceptions.  The full text of these proposal and CMS comments and explanations is available at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/07/15/2015-16875/medicare-program-revisions-to-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other-revisions

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-15/pdf/2015-16875.pdf

Perhaps the most noteworthy of the lesser proposals were clarifications that:

  • “hold over arrangements” are permitted to satisfy the

CMS has acknowledged that arrangements among providers to satisfy the Stark exceptions need not be created in a single document.  Although a single written document memorializing the key facts of an arrangement could provide the surest and most straightforward means of establishing compliance with the applicable exception, there is no requirement under the physician self-referral

In July 2015, CMS released proposals to provide several new Stark Law exceptions and to clarify issues regarding existing exceptions.  Over the next few days, I will post comment on what I consider the most significant new exceptions and clarifications.  The full text of these proposal and CMS comments and explanations is available at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/07/15/2015-16875/medicare-program-revisions-to-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other-revisions

In July 2015, CMS released proposals to provide several new Stark Law exceptions and to clarify issues regarding existing exceptions.  Over the next few days, I will post comments on what I consider the most significant new exceptions and clarifications.  The full text of these proposals and CMS comments and explanations are available at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/07/15/2015-16875/medicare-program-revisions-to-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other-revisions

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release on August 25, 2009 announcing a $4.5 million False Claims Act Settlement against an Iowa hospital, Covenant Medical Center. The False Claims Act liability allegations were based upon charges by the Attorney General that paying excessive compensation violated the Stark Law.

Based upon IRS 990 forms, the