Section 127.301. Referral standards

(a) Under section 306(f.1)(3)(iii) of the act (77 P. S. § 531(3)(iii)), a provider may not refer a person for certain treatment and services if the provider has a financial interest with the person or in the entity that receives the referral. A provider may not enter into an arrangement or scheme, such as a cross-referral arrangement, which the provider knows, or should know, has a principal purpose of assuring referrals by the provider to a particular entity which, if the provider directly made referrals to the entity, would be in violation of the act.

(b) No claim for payment may be presented by a person, provider or entity for a service furnished under a referral prohibited under subsection (a).

(c) Referrals permitted under all present and future Safe Harbor regulations promulgated under the Medicare and Medicaid Patient and Program Protection Act at 42 U.S.C.A. § 1320a-7b(1) and (2), published at 42 CFR 1001.952 (relating to exceptions), and all present and future exceptions to the Stark amendments to the Medicare Act at 42 U.S.C.A. § 1395nn, and all present and future regulations promulgated thereunder are not prohibited referrals involving financial interest. An insurer may not deny payment to a health care provider involved in such transaction or referral.

(d) For purposes of section 306(f.1)(3)(iii) of the act, a CCO will be considered a single health care provider.