On March 16, 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) published Advisory Opinion 22-05 (Advisory Opinion) in which it declined to impose sanctions against a medical device manufacturer (Requestor) that proposes to pay certain cost-sharing obligations of clinical trial participants, including Medicare beneficiaries. The OIG concluded that although the proposed arrangement (described below) would constitute prohibited remuneration under the Federal anti-kickback statute (AKS) and the beneficiary inducement prohibitions of the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (CMP), the low-risk nature of the proposed arrangement did not warrant the imposition of sanctions.
Continue Reading Advisory Opinion 22-05: OIG Declines to Impose Sanctions Against Device Manufacturer’s Medicare Cost-Sharing Subsidy in Clinical Trial
cost sharing
OIG Advisory Opinion Allows Medical Center to Share Cost Savings with Neurosurgeons for Curbing Spinal Fusion Surgery Costs
On January 5, 2018, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) posted a favorable Advisory Opinion, permitting an arrangement involving payment by a Medical Center to a multi-specialty physician Group for cost-reduction measures achieved through the efforts of certain Neurosurgeons, relating to the selection and use of products during spinal fusion surgeries (Program). Payment under the Program was calculated as a percentage of cost savings realized by the Medical Center over a three-year period. Though not yet paid at the time of the OIG advisory opinion, the amounts were to be paid to the Group through a Medical Center Subsidiary tasked with administering the Program, utilizing a Program Administrator. A portion of the payment made to the Group would be distributed to participating Neurosurgeons based on pre-existing contractual provisions with the Group that provided payment for personally-performed services. The Program Administrator was being paid a fixed monthly fee for services rendered, an amount not tied to cost savings or compensation paid to the Group.
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OIG Rescinds Advisory Opinion Due to Requestor’s Failure to Disclose Information
On November 28, 2017, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) rescinded advisory opinion 06-04, in which it had previously determined that a charity’s (Requestor) proposal to provide assistance to financially needy Medicare beneficiaries did not warrant the imposition of sanctions. The OIG explained that “public interest requires rescission” after finding that Requestor failed to…
New OIG Advisory Opinion Allows Waiver of Cost Sharing in Research Studies
By Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group on
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