Anti-Kickback Advisory Opinion Summaries / 2006 OIG Advisory Opinions / Opinion 06-13 - Charity May Help With Cost-Sharing, Premium Payments

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers understand how OIG reviews charitable assistance programs that may involve donors connected to healthcare products or services, and what program features were important to the agency’s fraud-and-abuse analysis.

Article Sections

1. Summary of the Advisory Opinion

   Overview of the charity’s patient-assistance arrangement and the general type of financial support involved.

2. Program Structure and Payment Flow

   General description of how assistance is routed in different situations and how the program interacts with insurers, providers, and patients.

3. Funding Sources and OIG Safeguards

   Discussion of the charitable funding model and the program features the agency viewed as relevant to fraud-and-abuse protection.