Ambulance restocking could violate federal law, despite safe harbor.
A proposed rule to create safe harbors for EDs that restock ambulances was published by the Office of the Inspector General, but EDs are still at risk for violations. Even common practices such as providing free food, waiving education tuition, and restocking ambulance supplies could violate federal anti-kickback laws. Violations of the anti-kickback statute place a hospital at risk of losing its Medicare status. The proposed rule gives EDs seven criteria to qualify for safe harbors for ambulance restocking.
D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005607:Fraud / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016134:Organizational Policy; D014481:United States