The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed changes to the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and Civil Monetary Penalty Law in 2019. The changes clear up issues with the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute as well as offer new exceptions […]
The Stark Law refers to a federal law that regulates how doctors can make referrals for certain items or services provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients. The Stark laws were named for Congressman Pete Stark, the original legislator who sponsored the first of the three bills implementing the law. The purpose of Stark Law is […]
There are many laws your hospital must follow, but the Stark and HIPAA laws are two of the most important. The key to compliance with these laws and their related regulations is rigorous, thorough procedures. It isn’t enough to simply write your procedures in a handbook. You also have to train your doctors, support staff, […]
There are two professions where it can be difficult to understand everything that’s said by industry professionals: the medical and legal fields. Understanding medical terms in the context of laws brings the two industries together. It can be easy for some physicians to get in trouble with the law accidentally when it comes to things […]
Physicians should know the basics of complying with the Stark law. Although this law was originally passed in 1989, it has continued to be expanded. The regulations under the Stark Law can be tough to keep up with, but understanding the basics is essential for any healthcare practice. What is the Stark Law? The Stark […]
The Stark Law is a federal law that prohibits doctors from engaging in “self-referrals.” A self-referral occurs when a doctor orders a designated health service that is payable by Medicaid or Medicare and that service is provided by an entity with which the physician has a financial relationship. For example, unless an exception to the […]
Physicians have been confused about Stark Law and how it applies to them. Some believe the law applies to all fraud and abuse violations, but it is only relevant when it comes to particular healthcare services and Medicare beneficiaries. The law also applies indirectly to referrals of Medicaid beneficiaries, but for simplicity, we will only […]
