Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create alternative sanctions for technical noncompliance with the Stark rule under Medicare, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stark Administrative Simplification Act 2. Alternative sanctions for technical noncompliance with Stark rule under Medicare Section 1877(g) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395nn(g) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking No Subject to paragraph (7), no (2) in paragraph (2), by striking If Subject to paragraph (7), if (3) in paragraph (3), by striking Any Subject to paragraph (7), any (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Alternative sanctions for technical noncompliance (A) Single penalty for compensation arrangements in technical noncompliance In the case of a compensation arrangement between a physician (or an immediate family member of such physician) and a person or entity that is in violation of subsection (a)(1) solely due to technical noncompliance, instead of the sanctions described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) for any such violation, the person or entity with respect to such arrangement shall be subject to a single civil monetary penalty under this paragraph in an amount that does not exceed— (i) in the case where the disclosure of the violation is submitted to the Secretary not later than the date that is one year after the initial date of noncompliance, $5,000; and (ii) in the case where the disclosure of the violation is submitted to the Secretary after the date that is one year after the initial date of noncompliance, $10,000. (B) Acceptance of voluntary disclosures (i) In general Effective on the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically noncompliant compensation arrangement if such voluntary disclosure is made as described in clause (iii). The Secretary may accept and reasonably rely on information provided by a person or entity that is in violation of subsection (a)(1) only because of a compensation arrangement that is technically noncompliant. (ii) Acceptance of disclosure The Secretary may reject any voluntary disclosure submitted under clause (iii) within 90 days after the receipt of the disclosure only if the Secretary determines that the disclosure does not conform to the requirements described in clause (iii). If the Secretary fails to reject a voluntary disclosure within such 90-day period, the voluntary disclosure is deemed to be accepted. (iii) Voluntary disclosure A voluntary disclosure described in this clause, with respect to a compensation arrangement, is a disclosure submitted to the Secretary, by a party to such arrangement that contains the following: (I) The identification of the disclosing party and all other parties to the disclosed compensation arrangement. (II) A description of the compensation paid under the arrangement and the dates of noncompliance. (III) A certification by the disclosing party that the compensation arrangement— (aa) is technically noncompliant (as defined by subparagraph (C)); (bb) has been cured of the technical noncompliance, or is otherwise terminated; and (cc) is, in the case of technical noncompliance under subparagraph (C)(i), a valid contract under State law, an arrangement consistent with fair market value, and one in which remuneration under the arrangement is not determined in a manner that takes into account directly or indirectly the volume or value of any referrals. (IV) Payment for the full amount of the civil monetary penalty under clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, of subparagraph (A). (C) Definition technical noncompliance For purposes of this paragraph, the term technical noncompliance (i) the arrangement is not set forth in writing; (ii) the arrangement is not signed by 1 or more parties to the arrangement; or (iii) a prior arrangement expired and services continued without the execution of an amendment to such arrangement or a new arrangement. (D) Applicability to pre-enactment disclosures to relieve backlog The Secretary shall provide for the application of this paragraph to any technically noncompliant compensation arrangement that has been disclosed, and to which there has not been a final settlement as of the date of enactment of this paragraph. (E) Report Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this paragraph. Such report shall include— (i) the number of persons or entities making disclosures of technical noncompliance under this paragraph; (ii) the amount and type of alternative sanctions collected or imposed for technical noncompliance; (iii) the types of violations disclosed; and (iv) such other information as the Inspector General determines may be necessary to evaluate the impact of this paragraph. .

Summary: Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prescribe a single civil monetary penalty as an alternative sanction to those already established for compensation arrangements between a physician (or an immediate family member) and a person or entity that is in violation of the limitation on certain physician referrals (Stark Law) solely due to technical noncompliance. (The Stark law, or Stark Rule, prohibits physician referrals of certain health services for Medicare and Medicaid patients to a specified entity if the physician, or an immediate family member, has a financial relationship with that entity.) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept the voluntary disclosure of a technically noncomplaint compensation arrangement by a person or entity in violation of the Stark Law under certain circumstances.