Stark Law Disclosure Requirement for MRI, CT and PET Tests
By: Rick Hindmand and Liz Sullivan
As of January 1, 2011, physicians who furnish MRI, CT or PET services for their Medicare patients in reliance on the in-office ancillary services exception must inform the patient in writing at the time of the referral that the patient may obtain the MRI, CT or PET test from others. This disclosure requirement was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The notice to patients must be provided at the time of the referral and must include a list of at least five other “suppliers” within a 25 mile radius of the physician’s office.