Media Statement - HHS Proposed Rules Removing Barriers to Coordinated Care

The Ohio Hospital Association, representing 236 hospitals and 14 health systems in Ohio, offers this statement regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announcement today proposing modernizing the Stark Law on physician self-referral and the anti-kickback statute. OHA President and CEO Mike Abrams offers this statement: 

“OHA supports regulatory reforms that reduce barriers to care coordination. To that end, OHA appreciates HHS’ proposed rules to modernize the Stark and Anti-kickback regulations, which have created unnecessary barriers to optimal patient care and provider alignment.  The rules will create necessary flexibility to meet the needs of patients in a dynamic health care system. 

As our complex health system evolves to meet the needs of patients, it is critical that the federal government ensure that rules and statutes not impede the efforts of those who provide health care to offer care that is of the highest quality, delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. The proposed rules will help hospitals and health systems achieve those goals.”
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