von Briesen Health Law Blog

Read the full advisory opinion here.

The United States has reached a settlement with three Arizona cardiologists resulting from alleged violations of the Stark Law. The cardiologists formed a nuclear-imaging practice in January of 2007. The cardiologists later learned of potential Stark Law violations and self reported the errors. The United States contended that from January 2007 to October 2007, the three cardiologists submitted claims for payment to the Medicare Program in violation of the Stark Law. The three cardiologists agreed to pay $355,000 to settle the matter. The settlement information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona does not include details of the business practices or the legal violations. View a copy of the press release here.

On January 21, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit found that an arrangement between an anesthesiology group and a hospital failed to satisfy the personal services exception to the Stark Law. The ruling highlights the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date written agreements. Read the complete opinion here.