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What Stark law, anti-kickback changes mean for value-based care at ASCs

The changes to the Anti-Kickback Statute make it easier to enter into value-based care arrangements, especially if providers take full risk. The exceptions create flexibility in how physicians are compensated. The exceptions don’t require setting compensation in advance, consistency with fair market value or determined in a way that doesn’t take the volume or value of physician referrals into account. But there is a commercial reasonableness standard for pay, and the exceptions apply to both Medicare and non-Medicare beneficiaries.

HHS issued two rules on value-based care arrangements recently that will affect orthopedic surgeons and ASCs. CMS made adjustments to the Stark law, and HHS updated the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the civil monetary penalties law to ensure healthcare providers could develop value-based care arrangements without fear of fraud and abuse charges.

The changes to the Anti-Kickback Statute make it easier to enter into value-based care arrangements, especially if providers take full risk. The exceptions create flexibility in how physicians are compensated. The exceptions don’t require setting compensation in advance, consistency with fair market value or determined in a way that doesn’t take the volume or value of physician referrals into account. But there is a commercial reasonableness standard for pay, and the exceptions apply to both Medicare and non-Medicare beneficiaries.

The new exceptions and safe harbors are for value-based arrangements when participants take on full risk, substantial risk with at least 10 percent downside, or arrangements where providers do not take on financial risk. There are incentive payments for participants who take on at least 10 percent risk.

Source: What Stark law, anti-kickback changes mean for value-based care at ASCs