This webinar will provide an in-depth review of recent enforcement actions taken by the HHS OIG.  We will also briefly review the Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”), discuss any new safe harbors, and OIG Advisory Opinions that have been issued.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Hospital executives, particularly CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CNOs, and CMOs,
• Physicians,
• Physician practice managers, and
• Other healthcare provider executives.

BACKGROUND:

 The AKS is currently the focus of law enforcement officials. The Statute provides that the offer or payment, as well as the solicitation or receipt, of “any remuneration” in exchange for referrals of any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part under Medicare/Medicaid is prohibited.

Recent enforcement actions by the OIG, involving the AKS, raise serious concerns regarding compliance issues with hospitals, physician practices and other healthcare entities.  Violations of the AKS can be the basis of actions under the False Claims Act, which can have serious consequences for health care providers.

We will provide an in-depth review of recent enforcement actions taken by the OIG.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND:

This program is designed for health care executives, physicians and other health care providers and their managers who participate in and receive remuneration from Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs such as TriCare.  Recent enforcement actions by the OIG bring home the realization that many activities that are common in other industries are a crime under federal healthcare fraud and abuse laws.

Hospital executives, as well as physicians and/or other health care providers, should be very concerned about the potential for the government to use the AKS as one of the prime methods for enforcing the federal fraud and abuse laws.  In this webinar, you will learn about the elements of the AKS, along with any new safe harbors that you can rely on for protection against enforcement under these laws, and an in-depth review of enforcement actions taken by the OIG. This is important because healthcare fraud and abuse if becoming the focus of these enforcement efforts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENTATION:

• Provide attendees with an understanding of the Federal AKS.
• Provide a perspective of how the Inspector General’s (OIG) office view compliance with the AKS.
• Provide an in-depth discussion of recent enforcement actions taken by the OIG.

AREAS COVERED IN THE PRESENTATION:

• The AKS
• New Anti-Kickback Safe arHHarbors
• New OIG Advisory Opinions

Enforcement Actions taken by OIG.