Philip Sprinkle spoke to MedCity News about newly finalized changes to the Stark Law, also known as the Physician Self-Referral Law. Initially enacted in 1989, the Stark Law prohibits physicians from referring patients to an entity for certain healthcare services if the physician has a financial relationship with the entity. The changes are aimed at clarifying any association between the Stark Law and the healthcare industry’s growing value-based care model.
“The government has recognized the need to update the Stark regulations that were originally developed at a time when the unnecessary volume of services was of primary importance. The concepts of value-added services, cost savings, systemic efficiencies and overall quality outcomes were just in their naissance,” Sprinkle said.