On September 5, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its third phase of the final regulations under the Stark Law. The Phase III regulations are intended to complete the set of final regulations interpreting the Stark Law. CMS has made a few new substantive changes in the Phase III regulations and has clarified several issues that have lingered since the Phase II regulations were promulgated. This Audio Webcast will highlight the major changes under the regulations, including:

New "Stand in the Shoes" rule
Changes to the recruitment exception
Modification to the group practice definition and reporting obligations.

In addition, the Audio Webcast will cover certain proposed modifications to Stark that have been deferred by the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule for 2008, which was released in final form on November 1, 2007. Many sweeping proposals to Stark were in the earlier proposed 2008 physician fee schedule rule and will be addressed by CMS in a final rule to be published at a later date, to-be-determined.