Hospitals, health systems and physicians faced big Stark law penalties in 2023.
Here are five key numbers on the rise of Stark law violations:
$345 million. The amount that Indianapolis-based Community Health Network agreed to pay in December to resolve claims that senior management recruited physicians based on their referrals and paid compensation above fair market value based on referrals to physicians — the most expensive penalty in 2023.
$12.6 million. The record-breaking total of Stark law settlements CMS reported in 2023.
176. The number of Stark law self disclosures in 2023, according to CMS data.
267: The number of additional disclosures withdrawn, closed without settlement or settled by CMS' law enforcement partners since Dec. 31.
552%. The percentage increase in Stark law disclosures from 2021 to 2023, 27 to 176.