The OIG has just released a major proposed rule to amend the safe harbors to the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) rule to protect certain payment practices and business arrangements from criminal prosecution or civil sanctions under the anti-kickback statute. In particular, with regard to the AKS, the OIG proposes:
- a technical correction to the existing safe harbor for referral services;
- protection for certain cost-sharing waivers, including: pharmacy waivers of cost-sharing for financially needy Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and waivers of cost-sharing for emergency ambulance services furnished by state- or municipality-owned ambulance services;
- protection for certain remuneration between Medicare Advantage organizations and federally qualified health centers;
- protection for discounts by manufacturers on drugs furnished to beneficiaries under the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program; and
- protection for free or discounted local transportation services that meet specified criteria.
The OIG also proposes to amend the definition of "remuneration" in the CMP regulations at 42 CFR 1003 by adding certain statutory exceptions for:
- copayment reductions for certain hospital outpatient department services;
- certain remuneration that poses a low risk of harm and promotes access to care;
- coupons, rebates, or other retailer reward programs that meet specified requirements;
- certain remuneration to financially needy individuals; and
- copayment waivers for the first fill of generic drugs.
The OIG also proposes to codify the gainsharing CMP rule set forth in section 1128A(b) of the Social Security Act. The official version will be published tomorrow; Reed Smith is preparing an analysis of this proposed rule.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.