WebMD Health (WBMD)

 

There are federal and state laws that govern patient referrals, physician financial relationships and inducements to healthcare providers and patients. The federal healthcare program’s anti-kickback law prohibits any person or entity from offering, paying, soliciting or receiving anything of value, directly or indirectly, for the referral of patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs or the leasing,

 

There are federal and state laws that govern patient referrals, physician financial relationships and inducements to healthcare providers and patients. The federal healthcare program’s anti-kickback law prohibits any person or entity from offering, paying, soliciting or receiving anything of value, directly or indirectly, for the referral of patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs or the leasing, purchasing, ordering or arranging for or recommending the lease, purchase or order of any item, good, facility or service covered by these programs. Many states also have similar anti-kickback laws that are not necessarily limited to items or services for which payment is made by a federal healthcare program. These laws are applicable to manufacturers and distributors and, therefore, may restrict how we and some of our customers market products to healthcare providers, including e-details. Also, in 2002, the Office of the Inspector General (or OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (or HHS), the federal government agency responsible for interpreting the federal anti-kickback law, issued an advisory opinion that concluded that the sale of advertising and sponsorships to healthcare providers and vendors by Web-based information services implicates the federal anti-kickback law. However, the advisory opinion suggests that enforcement action will not result if the fees paid represent fair market value for the advertising/sponsorship arrangements, the fees do not vary based on the volume or value of business generated by the advertising and the advertising/sponsorship relationships are clearly identified as such to users. We carefully review our practices with regulatory experts in an effort to ensure that we comply with all applicable laws. However, the laws in this area are both broad and vague, and it is often difficult or impossible to determine precisely how the laws will be applied, particularly to new services. Penalties for violating the federal anti-kickback law include imprisonment, fines and exclusion from participating, directly or indirectly, in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs. Any determination by a state or federal regulatory agency that any of our practices violate any of these laws could subject us to civil or criminal penalties and require us to change or terminate some portions of our business and could have an adverse effect on our business. Even an unsuccessful challenge by regulatory authorities of our practices could cause us adverse publicity and be costly for us to respond to.

 

 

There are federal and state laws that govern patient referrals,
physician financial relationships and inducements to healthcare
providers and patients. The federal healthcare program’s
anti-kickback law prohibits any person or entity from offering,
paying, soliciting or receiving anything of value, directly or
indirectly, for the referral of patients covered by Medicare,
Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs or the leasing,
purchasing, ordering or arranging for or recommending the lease,
purchase or order of any item, good, facility or service covered
by these programs. Many states also have similar anti-kickback
laws that are not necessarily limited to items or services for
which payment is made by a federal healthcare program. These
laws are applicable to manufacturers and distributors and,
therefore, may restrict how we and some of our customers market
products to healthcare providers, including
e-details.
Also, in 2002, the Office of the Inspector General (or OIG) of
the United States Department of Health and Human Services (or
HHS), the federal government agency responsible for interpreting
the federal anti-kickback law, issued an advisory opinion that
concluded that the sale of advertising and sponsorships to
healthcare providers and vendors by Web-based information
services implicates the federal anti-kickback law. However, the
advisory opinion suggests that enforcement action will not
result if the fees paid represent fair market value for the
advertising/sponsorship arrangements, the fees do not vary based
on the volume or value of business generated by the advertising
and the advertising/sponsorship relationships are clearly
identified as such to users. We carefully review our practices
with regulatory experts in an effort to ensure that we comply
with all applicable laws. However, the laws in this area are
both broad and vague, and it is often difficult or impossible to
determine precisely how the laws will be applied, particularly
to new services. Penalties for violating the federal
anti-kickback law include imprisonment, fines and exclusion from
participating, directly or indirectly, in Medicare, Medicaid and
other federal healthcare programs. Any determination by a state
or federal regulatory agency that any of our practices violate
any of these laws could subject us to civil or criminal
penalties and require us to change or terminate some portions of
our business and could have an adverse effect on our business.
Even an unsuccessful challenge by regulatory authorities of our
practices could cause us adverse publicity and be costly for us
to respond to.

 

 

There are federal and state laws that govern patient referrals, physician financial relationships and inducements to healthcare providers and patients. The federal healthcare program’s anti-kickback law prohibits any person or entity from offering, paying, soliciting or receiving anything of value, directly or indirectly, for the referral of patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs or the leasing, purchasing, ordering or arranging for or recommending the lease, purchase or order of any item, good, facility

 

There are federal and state laws that govern patient referrals, physician financial relationships and inducements to healthcare providers and patients. The federal healthcare program’s anti-kickback law prohibits