Webinar Overview

The federal Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as Stark Law, presents one of the most significant compliance challenges for healthcare organizations. Violations can lead to severe consequences, including denial of payment, refund obligations, civil penalties, and exclusion from federal healthcare programs. More alarmingly, a Stark violation is frequently used as the basis for a False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuit, potentially resulting in treble damages and crippling financial penalties.

This session provides a comprehensive overview of the Stark Law, its key exceptions, and the direct link to FCA enforcement. We will conduct a detailed risk assessment based on current enforcement activities and review pivotal court cases to illustrate how easily organizations can violate these rules and the severe repercussions they face.

Why You Should Attend

Designed for healthcare executives, physicians, and providers who bill federal programs, this webinar is critical for understanding a area of intense regulatory focus. Recent high-profile cases, such as the Tuomey case which resulted in a $74 million settlement and the CEO's personal liability, underscore the very real and personal risks involved.

Attend this session to:

• Gain a clear understanding of what is prohibited under the Stark Law and the "designated health services" it covers.

• Learn how to structure financial relationships to fit within a safe harbor exception and meet all required criteria.

• Understand how a technical Stark violation can be leveraged into a devastating False Claims Act case.

• Protect yourself and your organization from the enhanced enforcement efforts of modern healthcare fraud task forces.

Areas Covered in the Session

• Stark Law Fundamentals: A detailed breakdown of the law's prohibitions on physician self-referral.

• Designated Health Services (DHS): A clear review of the specific clinical services covered by the law.

• Safe Harbor Exceptions: An in-depth analysis of the critical exceptions, including the nuances required for compliance.

• Enforcement Risks & The FCA Link: How Stark violations become the foundation for False Claims Act actions.

• Case Law Analysis: A review of pivotal court decisions that shape the interpretation and application of the Stark Law.

Who Will Benefit

This webinar is essential for professionals in leadership and compliance roles, including:

• Hospital C-Suite Executives (CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CNOs, CMOs)

• Nursing Home and Health System Executives

• Physicians and Physician Practice Managers

• Healthcare Compliance Officers and In-House Counsel

• Revenue Cycle and Billing Directors