If a provider receives a tainted referral, what is the main consequence under the Stark Law?

In the context of the Stark Law, when a provider receives a tainted referral, the primary consequence is the prohibition of claims. The Stark Law specifically addresses physician self-referral and outlines situations where a physician may not refer patients for certain health services to entities with which they have a financial relationship. If a referral is considered tainted, it indicates that the referral was made in violation of these regulations, and any claims submitted to Medicare or Medicaid based on those tainted referrals are prohibited.

This means that services provided as a result of the tainted referral cannot be billed to government healthcare programs, leading to a financial implication for the provider. The law is designed to eliminate conflicts of interest and ensure that patient referrals are made based on medical necessity rather than financial incentives. Thus, the main consequence under the Stark Law for receiving a tainted referral is the outright prohibition of claims related to those services, which directly impacts the provider's revenue and compliance with the law.