Do Stark self-referral laws pertain to on-site diagnostic testing services?
Physicians commonly lease technicians and testing equipment to provide on-site diagnostic services such as echocardiograms and Doppler vascular tests. This is a similar arrangement, except you will be leasing technicians and equipment for electrodiagnostic and/or musculoskeletal ultrasound tests. Since you are providing these services in your own office or facility – and are not referring patients to an outside company in which you have an ownership interest — Stark regulations do not apply. (As always, you should check with counsel if you have any questions about legal matters.
