A group of 30 medical organizations have sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee urging it not to eliminate a Stark Law exception that allows physicians to refer Medicare patients to in-house centers for tests and therapies.
Although the Stark Law generally prohibits self-referrals, the law does contain the in-office ancillary services exception which allows for the self-referral of advanced diagnostic imaging, radiation oncology and therapy services.
The president's proposed fiscal year 2015 budget limits the IOASE, and, beginning in 2015, self-referrals for advanced imaging, radiation therapy and anatomic pathology and physical therapy would no longer be allowed under the Stark Law.
In their letter, the medical organizations urge the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to keep the IOASE and reject the Obama Administration's proposal.
The organizations state "ancillary services are essential tools used on a daily basis by practices seeking to provide comprehensive patient-centered services," and if the administration's proposal were accepted it would "force patients to receive ancillary services in a new and unfamiliar setting, increase inefficiencies, present significant barriers to appropriate screenings and treatments and make healthcare both less accessible and less affordable."
More Articles on Stark Law:
WPAHS to Pay $1.5M to Settle Kickback Allegations
Halifax Settled FCA Allegations for $85M, Announces DOJ
8 Key Trends in Healthcare False Claims and Antitrust Litigation