Compliance: OIG Report Shows Stark Laws Haven't Curbed Some Habits

Article Overview

This article summarizes a Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General report on health care fraud and abuse enforcement and uses it to highlight recurring compliance concerns in physician settings. It is aimed at compliance professionals, physicians, practice managers, and billing/coding staff who need a broad understanding of fraud-and-abuse risk areas, especially rental and space-sharing arrangements involving referral relationships. The discussion stays at a high level and focuses on the types of arrangements that drew scrutiny, why they matter for compliance, and the general context of the OIG's enforcement activity.