Tag: Stark Law
CMS softens safe harbors, exceptions to promote value-based care
December 3, 2020Liz Beaulieu, Editor
AMARILLO, Texas - CMS's recent reforms to the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law will benefit HME providers, but “not a whole lot,” says healthcare attorney Jeff Baird.
The agency in late November published two final rules, culminating a years-long process of modernizing regulations to better support coordinated and value-based care, but they mostly impact physicians and hospitals.
Baird, chairman of the Health Care Group at Brown & Fortunato, drilled down to how the...
In brief: Stark Law, new sleep company, Oventus-VGM agreement
November 24, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - CMS has finalized a number of changes to the Stark Law, including new permanent exemptions for value-based arrangements, in a 627-page final rule set to be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 2. The exemptions will allow physicians and other health care providers to design and enter into value-based arrangements without fear that legitimate activities to coordinate and improve the quality of care for patients and lower costs would violate the physician self-referral law, CMS says....
CMS modernizes Stark Law
November 23, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - CMS has finalized a number of changes to the Stark Law, including new permanent exemptions for value-based arrangements, in a 627-page final rule set to be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 2.
The exemptions will allow physicians and other health care providers to design and enter into value-based arrangements without fear that legitimate activities to coordinate and improve the quality of care for patients and lower costs would violate the physician self-referral law,...
In brief: HHS proposes changes to Stark Law, Estrella named Homecare Champion
October 11, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed changes to the Stark Law that would, among other things, create new exceptions that recognize incentives are different in healthcare systems that pay for value- vs. volume-based care.The proposal includes proper safeguards that ensure the Stark Law will continue to provide meaningful protection against overutilization and other harms, while giving physicians and other healthcare providers added flexibility to improve the quality...
HHS provides first look at proposed changes to Stark Law
October 10, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed changes to the Stark Law that would, among other things, create new exceptions that recognize incentives are different in healthcare systems that pay for value- vs. volume-based care.The proposal includes proper safeguards that ensure the Stark Law will continue to provide meaningful protection against overutilization and other harms, while giving physicians and other healthcare providers added flexibility to improve the quality...
In brief: AAH comments on Stark Law, resupplies; Lincare settles
August 24, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare emphasized the importance of coordinated care in its comments to CMS on possibly relaxing the Stark Law.
The Stark Law is designed to prevent physicians from ordering services and products for Medicare beneficiaries when the motivation is to make money.
In its comments, however, AAHomecare states that the Stark Law may “overly limit” healthcare providers—not only physicians but also HME providers, therapists (respiratory, physical and occupational),...
AAHomecare submits comments on Stark Law, resupplies
August 23, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare emphasized the importance of coordinated care in its comments to CMS on possibly relaxing the Stark Law.The Stark Law is designed to prevent physicians from ordering services and products for Medicare beneficiaries when the motivation is to make money.In its comments, however, AAHomecare states that the Stark Law may “overly limit” healthcare providers—not only physicians but also HME providers, therapists (respiratory, physical and occupational), home health...
A more relaxed Stark Law?
July 30, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - A more relaxed Stark Law could be a double-edged sword for HME providers, says healthcare attorney Jeff Baird.In a request for information published in the Federal Register on June 25, the Department of Health and Human Services asks for feedback on “how to address any undue regulatory impact and burden of the physician self-referral law.”Here's what Baird, chairperson of The Health Care Group at Amarillo, Texas-based Brown & Fortunato, had to say about why HHS's decision...
Relaxed Stark Law: Could it result in increased efficiency but decreased competition?
June 29, 2018Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - A more relaxed Stark Law could be a double-edged sword for HME providers, says healthcare attorney Jeff Baird.In a request for information published in the Federal Register on June 25, the Department of Health and Human Services asks for feedback on “how to address any undue regulatory impact and burden of the physician self-referral law.”Here's what Baird, chairperson of The Health Care Group at Amarillo, Texas-based Brown & Fortunato, had to say about why HHS's decision...
In brief: MedPAC makes case for ramping up bid program, several DME product categories dropped from Trump tariffs
June 22, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - MedPAC's June 2018 report to Congress recommends that CMS include more DMEPOS products in the competitive bidding program as a way to improve Medicare's payment policies and reduce fraud and abuse.
“The CBP has successfully driven down the cost of DMEPOS products for the Medicare program and beneficiaries,” the report states. “Compared with payment rates in the year before the CBP, Medicare's payment rates for some of the highest expenditure products...