Which law prohibits physicians from making referrals to their own family members under Medicare and Medicaid?

The Stark Law, also known as the Ethics in Patient Referrals Act, is the legislation that prohibits physicians from making referrals for certain healthcare services to entities in which they or their immediate family members have a financial interest. This law was put in place primarily to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that referral decisions are based on the best interests of patients rather than financial gain.

Under the Stark Law, if a physician refers a patient to a service that is provided by a family member or an entity where a family member has a stake, it can result in significant penalties, including exclusion from federal healthcare programs and civil monetary penalties. This is particularly pertinent in the context of Medicare and Medicaid, where ensuring the integrity of referrals is critical to patient care and the proper use of public health resources.

In contrast, the other options, while related to healthcare compliance and fraud prevention, do not specifically address the issue of referrals to family members in the same direct manner as the Stark Law. The False Claims Act deals with fraudulent claims submitted to federal programs, the Health Care Fraud Statute is broader and encompasses various acts of fraud in healthcare, and Professional Fee Splitting Laws pertain to the sharing of fees among healthcare professionals rather than referral practices specifically. Therefore, the Stark Law is