On November 30 and December 2, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) published two final rules (available here: November 30 Final Rule and December 2 Final Rule) which modify the safe harbor regulations to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and codify a new exception to the Civil
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Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark), Anti-Kickback Statute, and Beneficiary Inducement CMPs – HHS Releases Final Rules
By Melissa (Lisa) Thompson & Conor Duffy on
Posted in Fraud and Abuse, Health Information Exchanges and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), Health Information Technology, Healthcare Technology, Hospitals and Health Systems, Managed Care, Medicare and Medicaid, Office of Inspector General, Pharmacy Law, Physicians and Allied Health Professionals, Stark Law, Telehealth, Telemedicine
On November 20, 2020, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released heavily anticipated final rules revising the regulatory exceptions to the Physician Self-Referral Law (also known as the Stark Law), the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) safe harbors, and the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) regulations. The changes to the regulations go into effect on January 19, 2021 (except for one change to the Physician Self-Referral Law that becomes effective January 1, 2022). In a separate rule also released November 20th, HHS removed safe harbor protection for rebates involving prescription pharmaceuticals and created a new safe harbor for certain point-of-sale reductions in price on prescription pharmaceuticals and pharmacy benefit manager service fees.
The full text of each rule is available below.
- Final Physician Self-Referral Law Rule, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-26140.pdf
- Final AKS Rule and Beneficiary Inducements CMP Regulations, Office of Inspector General (OIG): https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-26072.pdf
- Final Rule on Rebate/Point-of-Sale Price Reductions Safe Harbor, OIG: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-25841.pdf?utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list&utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email