True or False: The Anti-Kickback Statute applies to referrals from patients.

The correct response is true because the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) is designed to prevent any sort of remuneration or incentive in exchange for referrals or recommendations regarding healthcare services or goods. While the statute primarily targets relationships among healthcare providers, it also encompasses situations where patients may be influenced by third parties to make referrals based on financial gain.

This means that if a patient were to receive any form of compensation for referring another patient for services, such an action would indeed fall under the purview of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The law aims to eliminate conflicts of interest and ensure that medical decisions are made based on patient needs rather than financial motivations.

Thus, understanding that the AKS is broad enough to include various stakeholders—patients included—highlights the critical importance of compliance in maintaining ethical standards within healthcare practices.