NCJ Number
121045
Date Published
1989
Length
54 pages
Annotation
Some of the joint ventures involving physicians and those providing items or services supported by Medicare or Medicaid may violate the Medicare and Medicaid anti-kickback statute.
Abstract
The law penalizes anyone who knowingly and willfully solicits, receives, offers, or pays anything of value to induce referrals or to pay for them. Identifying suspect joint ventures requires attention to three areas: 1) the manner in which investors are chosen and retained, 2) the nature of the business structure of the joint venture, and 3) the financing and profit distributions. Anyone with information on the existence of a suspect joint venture should call the Inspector General hotline or any of the regional offices of the Inspector General.