Enforcement: Know These Stark and AKS Waiver Updates

Why This Topic Matters

These temporary updates changed how certain provider relationships and referral-related arrangements were viewed during the pandemic, making it important for organizations to understand the scope, limits, and duration of the federal flexibility. Readers can use the article to assess whether their compliance programs and temporary arrangements were affected by the CMS and OIG guidance discussed.

Article Sections

1. Review These Temporary Stark Changes

   Overview of the COVID-19-related temporary changes affecting physician self-referral compliance. The section describes the agencies, emergency authorities, time frame, and broad categories of arrangements addressed by the guidance.

2. Feds Put COVID-19 Spin on AKS

   Discussion of the related federal policy response under the anti-kickback framework. The section covers the agencies involved, the general relationship between the Stark and AKS updates, and the types of compliance questions raised by the policy statement and FAQs.