Regulators delay final updates to self-referral law

August 27, 2020 
Federal regulators pushed again updates to the self-referral and anti-kickback laws to August 2021, HHS and CMS introduced Wednesday.  “The recent decision to delay final action on the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute is a blow to independent physician practices across the country that see overhaul as necessary to transforming our healthcare system to one that pays for value," said LUGPA president Richard G. Harris, MD. "LUGPA and its member practices have been championing the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care models since 2015’s bipartisan passage of MACRA. As a result of this delay, we can expect that the innovation the Administration is so committed to unlocking will remain stymied until CMS finalizes the Anti-Kickback Statute (and Stark) Proposed Rules. It is unclear how yesterday’s announcement will affect the Office of Inspector General’s concurrent process, but our organization will continue to stay engaged so that the nation’s independent physicians have a champion who gives voice to them in their continued fight to expand the services patients want. It’s been proven that independent physicians offer the highest quality care at costs more reasonable than hospitals, letting them expand their offerings without fear of violating anti-kickback statutes will help the entire health care system.” A portion of Dr. Harris' quote was used in this article published in Modern Healthcare.