California State Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D., Chair of the Senate Health Committee, has introduced legislation that would close an exception in state law that currently permits physicians to provide advanced imaging, anatomic pathology, radiation therapy, and physical therapy within their office or the office of their group practice. Under current law, the so-called "in-office exception" permits physicians to refer patients to their own practice for these services, which are typically ancillary to the primary service of the referring physician. If this legislation is adopted, California's self-referral law would be more restrictive than the federal physician self-referral law, commonly referred to as the Stark law. Physicians in California residing outside of rural areas would be prohibited from referring any patients, regardless of source of payment, for advanced imaging, anatomic pathology, radiation therapy, and physical therapy performed by the referring physician's own practice. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 1215, is scheduled for an April 21, 2014 hearing before the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee. Comments on the legislation may be sent to the committee at State Capitol, Room 2053 Sacramento, California 95814.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
