What do the recent multimillion dollar FCA settlements tell healthcare providers about physician compensation arrangements? Standing alone, these settlements are cautionary examples of arrangements that may subject hospitals and physicians to increased scrutiny. These settlements, however, come on the heels of the recent OIG fraud alert – “Physician Compensation Arrangements May Result in Significant Liability,” and highlight the need for healthcare providers to proactively review physician arrangements for compliance with Stark and the Anti-Kickback Statute. For further discussion of the issues raised by these settlements and suggested tips for healthcare providers evaluating physician arrangements, please see this recent article, “Under the Knife: Enforcement Actions Increase Scrutiny on Physician Compensation Arrangements.”
