CMP

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On September 7, 2017, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an Advisory Opinion to the owner of a retail pharmacy chain (Pharmacy) that would allow Federal health care program beneficiaries to participate in a paid membership program (Program).  The Program would include discounts and rebates on certain prescriptions and, where offered, on selected clinic services.

The Program was being offered previously to customers who satisfied certain eligibility criteria and paid an annual fee to join, but Federal program beneficiaries had not been permitted to enroll. In seeking the Advisory Opinion, the Pharmacy sought to modify the Program to extend it to Federal program beneficiaries as well.
Continue Reading OIG Issues Advisory Opinion to Pharmacy

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued Advisory Opinion 17-02, allowing waivers or reductions of cost-sharing amounts owed by financially needy Medicare beneficiaries in connection with certain clinical research studies conducted at a non-profit medical center.  In the advisory opinion, the OIG reiterated its longstanding concern about routine waivers of Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing amounts in the absence of financial hardship, and noted this can lead to liability under the anti-kickback statute (AKS).  The research studies were conducted utilizing protocols under the Medicare Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) framework and involved a wound care system used to treat chronic, non-healing wounds.
Continue Reading New OIG Advisory Opinion Allows Waiver of Cost Sharing in Research Studies

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently issued Advisory Opinion 17-01 to a health system (Requestor) for an arrangement to provide free and reduced-cost lodging and meals to financially disadvantaged patients (Proposed Arrangement). In issuing this positive opinion, the OIG applied the Access to Care exception to the prohibition on beneficiary inducements under the Civil Monetary Penalties (Beneficiary Inducement CMP).

One of the hospitals operated by the Requestor provides services to a rural and medically underserved patient population. Under the Proposed Arrangement, the Requestor would offer financially needy patients residing in rural or underserved areas free or reduced-cost lodging at a hotel near the hospital where rooms are approximately $70 per night. Requestor would also provide eligible patients free or reduced-cost meals at the hospital’s cafeteria, not exceeding $15 per overnight stay. The hospital would pay the hotel directly and would not provide cash or cash equivalents to patients.Continue Reading OIG Applies The Access To Care Exception In Favorable Advisory Opinion For Hospital Meal And Lodging Assistance Program

On December 7, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a long-awaited final rule establishing new Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) safe harbor protections and codifying regulatory exceptions to the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (CMP).

Local Transportation Safe Harbor

This safe harbor protects local transportation made available by an “Eligible Entity” as long as the following conditions are met.  An “Eligible Entity” is any individual or entity, except for individuals or entities (or family members or others acting on their behalf) that primarily supply health care items (for example, durable medical equipment suppliers or pharmaceutical manufacturers).
Continue Reading New Anti-Kickback Safe Harbors and Exceptions to CMP Law

On December 13, 2016, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a favorable Advisory Opinion to a university health system (the Requestor) for two arrangements relating to a federally-funded clinical research study designed by a physician-employee (the Study):

  1. a proposal to waive the cost-sharing obligations of Study participants (Participants) for medically necessary health care services received under the Study protocol (the Proposed Arrangement), and
  2. payment of a stipend to Participants for the time and effort required to participate (the Current Arrangement).

Continue Reading OIG Issues Favorable Advisory Opinion for Cost-sharing Waivers and Stipends in a Clinical Research Study

On October 29, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Health & Human Services issued a final rule (Final Rule) regarding waivers (ACO Waivers) of the physician self-referral law (Stark law), the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (CMP) provision relating to beneficiary inducements for Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The ACO Waivers waive the application of these fraud and abuse laws to certain ACO activities that are reasonably related to the purposes of the MSSP. The Final Rule’s ACO Waivers are effective as of October 29, 2015.
Continue Reading Fraud And Abuse Waivers For ACOs