Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement applauding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) for proposing regulatory changes to the Medicare physician self-referral law, more commonly known as the Stark Law, and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute regulations to enable increased physician coordination that leads to better and more affordable care for patients.

“As a physician, I know first-hand that patients can have medical issues requiring a coordinated team of physicians and other healthcare professionals to be on the case for effective treatment. As a long-term advocate for reforming the Stark Law, I am pleased that CMS has proposed real reform to this burdensome law. The Stark Law is a dated regulatory structure – designed for a fee-for-service payment model – that has inhibited value-based care and coordinated care arrangements that many physicians are eager to take advantage of in order to provide better and more efficient care for their patients.  As we rapidly move to value-based care payment models, CMS’ proposal to modernize the Stark Law will remove legal barriers that currently prevent physicians from entering into coordinated care and innovative payment models that can lead to better outcomes for patients while also keeping costs down.”

 NOTE: In the 115^th Congress, Dr. Bucshon was the lead author of bipartisan Stark Law reform legislation, the Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act (H.R. 4206).  

Background

Fact Sheet by HHS
Background by CMS