On August 1, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt announced the issuance of final regulations (published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2006) creating new information technology exceptions under the Federal Stark law and safe harbors under the Federal Anti-Kickback statute. Proposed regulations were issued last October 11, subject to a comment period ending December 12, 2005. The issuance of these regulations substantially increases the ability of hospitals and other providers of Medicare and Medicaid services to donate information technology to physicians without violating the Stark law or Anti-Kickback statute.
