CMS to put part of "Stark III" on hold

CMS has announced that it will partially delay implementing a provision in "Stark III" rules for one year. CMS is putting a hold on the "stand-in-the-shoes" physician self-referral prohibition contained within Stark, at least where it pertains to academic medical centers and not-for-profit integrated health systems. The rest of the rule will go into effect December 4.

When enacted, the provision will ratchet down exemption which made it easier for physicians to have indirect financial relationships with the hospitals to which they refer. Rather than having a hands-off standing, physicians will be considered to "stand in the shoes" of their practices. However, academic medical centers and not-for-profit integrated health systems have argued that under the new rules, they'd be unable to offer physicians "support payments" which are routinely made to affiliated physicians and considered acceptable under other Stark exceptions.

To learn more about the delay:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)

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