Stark Amendment Interim Final Rule Becomes Effective on July 26th

On March 26, 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the second phase of the Stark II interim final rule. The Stark Act prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients for specified designated health services (DHS) to entities with which they, directly or indirectly, have a financial relationship. The Phase II interim final rule becomes effective July 26th.