Which office issues advisory opinions and fraud alerts regarding the Anti-Kickback Statute and OIG sanctions?

• A. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• B. The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG)
• C. The Department of Justice
• D. The National Institutes of Health

Answer: (B)

The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) within the Office of Inspector General is the one that provides advisory opinions and fraud alerts about the Anti-Kickback Statute and OIG sanctions. OCIG prepares Advisory Opinions to clarify how a specific proposed arrangement might be viewed under the AKS and related OIG enforcement concerns, helping entities assess compliance before entering into a deal. It also issues Fraud Alerts to warn about practices that could trigger penalties or represent schemes to defraud federal healthcare programs. This role is distinct from CMS, which sets Medicare/Medicaid policy; DOJ, which prosecutes violations; or NIH, which funds research.