Stark Law changes are on the horizon.

With a lot of attention focused on the potential for national health care reform and the raucous town hall meetings held by various members of Congress, it is important to remember that there are three substantive changes to the Federal Ethics in Physician Self-Referrals Act (known as the “Stark Law”) scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2009. Physicians and hospitals should review their joint venture relationships and modify them as necessary to ensure compliance with the Stark Law.