Proposed changes to Stark may impact imaging joint ventures

Why This Topic Matters

The topic matters because changes to Stark’s definition of an entity could alter whether certain imaging-related ownership and referral structures remain permissible, which may affect how practices organize services, referrals, and billing relationships.

Article Sections

1. Proposed Stark changes and imaging joint ventures

   Introduces the CMS proposal, the Stark self-referral context, and the imaging joint venture arrangements that may be affected. It frames the broader compliance and business-structure issue for interventional practices.

2. Potential impact on current arrangements

   Discusses how the proposed change could affect existing practice relationships with imaging centers and the types of service arrangements that may need to be reconsidered. It also notes the general direction practices may take in response to the proposal.

3. Compliance caution

   Provides a brief caution about seeking qualified healthcare legal counsel when entering into or changing these kinds of business relationships.