What has changed to make ancillary services more attractive?
The recently finalized Stark regulations provide clear and distinctive guidance as to how groups can provide ancillaries without violating the Stark rules. In addition the new regulations eliminate the requirement that physicians directly supervise ancillary services. Direct supervision required the presence of a physician whenever a therapist or other staff member provided ancillary services. The final regulations allow ancillary services to be provided anywhere in the same building or in a centralized location without the presence of a physician (subject to otherwise applicable Medicare supervision requirements).
