HCFA publishes Stark II regulations

The Health Care Financing Administration has finally published its proposed regulations for implementing the Medicare and Medicaid ban on physician self-referral, widely known as Stark II (SCAN 8/25/93). Congress passed the ban in 1993, barring physicians from referring patients to healthcare facilities, such as imaging centers, in which they have financial interests. Without implementing rules from HCFA, however, many healthcare providers were unsure of what specific activities were forbidden. HCFA will be accepting comments on the rules for the next 60 days.