Reference no: EM133435322
Assignment:
Read the hypothetical case study below carefully regarding Week 2 of Cardiology Service.
You review some of the business contracts in the files of Mystic Health Systems.
Cardiology Service: In order to increase patient revenue to support its new cardiology wing, Mystic Health Systems has signed a 5-year relocation agreement with a prominent cardiologist whose practice currently is located on the other side of town. Under the terms of the agreement, the cardiologist agreed to relocate his practice to the Medical Group and Mystic agreed to pay the cardiologist 25% of revenue generated by the cardiac catheterizations. Mystic Medical Group has also agreed to pay the relocated physician a starting bonus of $25,000.
After reading this case study answer the following questions below:
1. What are the legal and/or compliance issues raised by the hypothetical?
2. What law, regulation, or governance requirement/policy MAY have been violated? Consider among the following and explain why a potential violation may have occurred.
- Federal False Claims Act
- Physician Self-Referral "Stark" Law
- Federal Anti-Kickback Statute
- Federal Tax-Exempt Law
- Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Antitrust Law
- Organizational bylaws
- Scope of practice laws, licensure, certification
- Employment law, corporate liability
3. Which issues merit highest priority? Why?
4. Which issues would you recommend for further investigation? Why?
5. What, if any, further steps would you suggest (e.g., referral to inside/outside counsel, involvement of additional departments or individuals, revision of policies/procedures, termination of employment or contractual relationships, self-reporting to the government, internal audit, etc.)?
6. To the extent you believe there to be a legal or compliance-related issue, please recommend alternatives to the problematic program, policy, programmatic element/component, departmental or corporate structure, and/or relationship that you believe would not violate any laws. These alternative proposals do not require detail; however, and particularly where the offending program/policy is designed to increase access, improve quality, or reduce costs, the CEO and board will want to know that these ultimate goals can still be achieved if you are recommending elimination or modification of existing activities.