Health care fraud and abuse laws.
BACKGROUND
Health care fraud and abuse enforcement actions have significantly expanded in number and scope during the past several years. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General named review of in-office pathology services a critical priority in its 2005 Work Plan. As providers of pathology and laboratory medicine services, pathologists need to be aware of the potential impact of these laws on their practices.


OBJECTIVE
To review the major statutes and regulations underlying most federal investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud, with a special emphasis on their relationships to pathology practice.


METHODS
The authors reviewed pertinent federal statutes, regulations, and other documents, along with relevant legal literature.


RESULTS
The health care fraud and abuse laws are complicated and potentially impact pathology practice in unforeseen ways.


CONCLUSIONS
The health care fraud and abuse laws are complex and often counterintuitive. The penalties for violation of these laws are severe. Because they may impact many areas of pathology and laboratory medicine practice, pathologists are advised to consult experienced legal counsel prior to embarking on potentially suspect health care arrangements.
Klein
Roger D
RD
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. 06510, USA. roger.klein@yale.edu
Campbell
Sheldon
S
D005607:Fraud / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D033161:Government Regulation; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D014481:United States