Be Mindful of the Stark Law in CCTA Alliances

Numerous radiology groups are currently discussing arrangements whereby cardiologists and the radiologists would essentially split the responsibilities for reading coronary CT angiography (CCTA) studies. Most commonly, as proposed, the cardiologists would read and generate a signed interpretation report, but limited to the cardiac portion of the CCTA scan. The radiologists would read and generate a signed interpretation report for the non-cardiac portions of the CCTA studies.

The cardiologists would then bill for all of the professional services and compensate the radiologist for their portion of the services pursuant to a professional services agreement. In an effort to protect the parties from potential scrutiny by the local Medicare carrier, some consultants have recommended sending a letter to the local Medicare carrier requesting clarification or approval of the proposed shared reading arrangement. While such contacts with the medical director for approval is prudent and—assuming approval is granted—it could provide the parties with some measure of protection from regulatory scrutiny, such approval does not address or provide any degree of protection to the parties with respect to potential liability under the federal Stark law.

The federal Stark law and its implementing regulations generally prohibit a physician from referring a Medicare patient to an entity in which the physician holds a financial interest for the provision of certain designated health services, including the professional component of diagnostic radiology services.

Cardiologists are generally prohibited from self referrals under the Stark law, but there are exceptions

As a result, a cardiologist is generally prohibited from referring a Medicare patient to his or her own group practice for the provision of and billing for professional interpretations of CCTA studies, unless those referrals qualify for protection under an exception to the Stark law. Specifically, the referrals of Medicare patients for the professional component of CCTA studies must meet the requirements of the “physician services” exception to the Stark law.

This exception states that “physician services” are services that are furnished: (a) Personally by another physician who is a member of the referring physician’s group practice or is a physician in the same group practice as the referring physician; or (b) Under the supervision of another physician who is a member of the referring physician’s group practice or is a physician in the same group practice as the referring physician, provided that the supervision complies with all other applicable Medicare payment and coverage rules for the physician services.”

Under the split read model described above, an independent contractor radiologist will actually perform a portion of the professional services billed by the cardiologist. Thus, in order for the services performed by the radiologist but billed by the cardiologist to qualify for protection under the “physician services” exception, the radiologist must qualify as a “physician in the group practice” as the cardiologist.