The Affordable Care Act contains a provision known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a national databank containing information on the financial relationships between physicians (which includes dentists, chiropractors, and other physician specialties) and teaching hospitals, applicable manufacturers, and group purchasing organizations (GPOs). … Continue Reading
On June 25, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a Special Fraud Alert entitled “Laboratory Payments to Referring Physicians.” While the Alert breaks no new ground (see, e.g., its 1994 Special Fraud Alert), it demonstrates the OIG’s continuing concerns about clinical laboratories’ offering inducements to referring … Continue Reading
In 2009, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (“HEAT”) initiative was formed as a joint effort between the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, and combating health care fraud continues to be a major focus of federal and state authorities. The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) publishes a list of … Continue Reading
Last month, in the case Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. et al. vs. DVA Renal Healthcare, Inc., the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the Florida Patient Self-Referral Act of 1992. The Florida Legislature modeled the Florida Act after the federal Physician Self-Referral Prohibitions, or Stark law, that was passed in 1989. … Continue Reading
