CMS Requests Feedback on Regulatory Burden of the Stark Law
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) is seeking public feedback regarding the regulatory impact and burdens of the Physician Self-Referral Law (commonly known as the “Stark Law”). On Monday, June 25th, CMS published in the Federal Register a Request for Information Regarding the Physician Self-Referral Law (the “RFI”). According to the RFI, CMS has identified some aspects of the Stark Law as a potential barrier to coordinated care and is seeking public comment on the impact and burden of the Stark Law and whether the Stark Law prevents or inhibits care coordination.CMS plans to issue guidance or revise regulations to address obstacles such as certain portions of the Stark Law, as well as to encourage and incentivize coordinated care. In the RFI, CMS has asked for stakeholders’ comments on the following areas:
- The structure of arrangements between parties that participate in alternative payment models or other novel financial arrangements;
- The need for revisions or additions to exceptions to the Stark Law; and
- Certain terminology used in the context of healthcare delivery, payment reform, and the Stark Law.
- What existing or potential arrangements involving alternative payment models do you participate in that involve a designated health services entity and referring physician under the Stark Law;
- What, if any, additional exceptions to the Stark Law are necessary to protect financial arrangements that involve integrating and coordinating care outside of an alternative payment model;
- Whether the current exception at 42 CFR 411.357(n) for risk-sharing arrangements is effective;
- Whether the special rule for compensation under a physician incentive plan within the exception for personal services arrangements is useful;
- Comments on possible approaches to addressing the application of the Stark Law to financial arrangements with participants in alternative payment models.
- How should the CMS define commercial reasonableness in the context of the Stark Law;
- Whether the CMS should modify the definition of “fair market value”;
- When compensation should be considered to “take into account the volume or value of referrals” by a physician or “take into account business generated” between parties to an arrangement;
- Whether barriers exist to qualifying as a “group practice”;
- Whether transparency about physician’s financial relationships, price transparency or the availability of other data necessary for informed consumer purchasing could reduce or eliminate the harms to the Medicare program and its beneficiaries that the Stark Law is intended to address; and
- What are the compliance costs for regulated entities, such as physician practices and hospitals.