CMS Issues Request for Information on Self-Referral Law

In line with the Administration’s goals to continue to remove administrative burdens, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information (RFI) on how the physician self-referral law (better known as the Stark Law) exemptions are working and what changes are needed to reduce barriers to care coordination for alternative payment models (APM).

“Removing unnecessary government obstacles to care coordination is a key priority for this Administration,” said Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Eric Hargan. “We need to change the healthcare system so that it puts value and results at the forefront of care, and coordinated care plays a vital role in this transformation. Reviewing the Stark Law regulations is an important step forward to building a value-based system, which is one of Secretary Azar’s priorities at HHS. I am personally leading our recently launched Regulatory Sprint to remove barriers and help providers deliver the best team-based care. We welcome public input to get us there.”

CMS is particularly interested in the public’s input on the structure of arrangements between parties that participate in APMs or other novel financial arrangements, the need for revisions or additions to exceptions to the physician self-referral law, and terminology related to APMs and the physician self-referral law. Public comments on the RFI are due by August 24, 2018.

The Society is currently looking at the changing role of the nursing facility medical director in APMs and will consider submitting comments on this RFI as appropriate.

To view a blog by Administrator Verma, please visit: https://blog.cms.gov/2018/06/20/working-together-for-value/.

The RFI can be downloaded from the Federal Register at: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/.