Stark III: Tightening the Stark Physician Self-Referral Prohibitions

Summary

This practice note discusses the key revisions presented in the Stark III Regulations that updated the federal physician self-referral prohibition, also referred to as the Stark law or Stark. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Stark III Regulations in 2007. Generally, Stark III tightened up existing restrictions instead of adding additional opportunities. Although many of the Stark III revisions addressed ongoing potentially abusive activities, the changes were not viewed as physician friendly.