Radiology quick cash? Kickbacks, compliance, and consequences

• DOI: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2024.05.020
• Publication Date: 2024-05-07T15:33:40Z
• Authors: Robert Optican; Richard Duszak
• Keywords: Whistleblowing; Fraud; Humans; Radiology; United States

The Anti-Kickback Statute was passed by Congress in the 1970s to reduce the overuse of government-reimbursed medical services. It attempts to eliminate fraud, abuse, and waste of medical services by outlawing the incentive of personal gain when referring patients for government-funded services. Although safe harbors were written into the law to maintain transactions beneficial to society, they require strict adherence. Anti-Kickback Statute violations are subject to the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, and violations can yield significant civil and criminal penalties.