Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits which?

• A. It prohibits charging private fees for services
• B. It bans all patient inducements
• C. It makes it a criminal offense to knowingly and willfully offer, pay, solicit, or receive any remuneration for referrals of items or services reimbursable by a federal healthcare program
• D. It prohibits marketing to non-physician staff

Answer: (C)

The Anti-Kickback Statute focuses on preventing improper financial incentives to influence referrals for items or services paid by federal health programs. It makes it a criminal offense to knowingly and willfully offer, pay, solicit, or receive any remuneration in exchange for referrals of items or services reimbursable by a federal healthcare program (such as Medicare or Medicaid). This is the key idea: paying or accepting kickbacks to steer referrals for things covered by federal programs.

This isn’t a blanket ban on charging private fees, nor a universal ban on all patient inducements, and it doesn’t target marketing to non-physician staff. Some arrangements may be permissible only if they fit specific safe harbors and don’t involve paid referrals for federal program items or services.