Browse Advisory Opinions

Concerning a proposed bundle billing arrangement for basic life support advanced life support joint responses.

Concerning an ambulance supplier's proposal to routinely waive cost-sharing amounts for emergency medical services rendered on a part-time basis.

Concerning a proposal by a radiology group to offer free insurance pre-authorization services to physicians and patients.

Concerning reduced-rate arrangements for the provision of therapy services at state-operated veterans' homes.

Concerning a proposal for an independent diagnostic testing facility to hire a doctor to read and interpret test results when that doctor is closely related to the owners of the independent diagnostic testing facility and is employed by a company that also employs other potential referral sources.

Concerning an exclusive arrangement between a county and an emergency medical services company whereby the company provides emergency ambulance services to county residents.

Concerning two proposals by an anesthesia services provider to enter into contracts with physician-owned professional corporations or limited liability companies to provide anesthesia services.

Concerning a rewards program under which consumers would earn gasoline discounts based on the amount spent on purchases in retail stores and pharmacies, including cost-sharing amounts paid in connection with items covered by Federal health care programs.

Concerning certain aspects of an exclusive contract for emergency transport services between a municipality and an ambulance company that reimburses the municipality for dispatch services and for certain costs incurred when municipal firefighters drive transports.

Concerning a proposal by a municipal fire department to share certain costs related to dispatch and other services with hospital-based ambulance providers that participate in the local 911 emergency dispatch system.

Concerning a proposal to operate a website that would display coupons and advertising from health care providers, suppliers, and other entities.

Concerning a proposal to establish a group purchasing organization ("GPO") that would be wholly owned by an entity that also wholly owns many of the potential participants in the GPO, and to pass through to participants in the GPO a portion of the payments received by the GPO from vendors.

Concerning the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies.

Concerning a proposed arrangement under which an entity would furnish allergy testing and immunotherapy laboratory services within various primary care physicians' medical offices.

Concerning a hospital's domiciliary services program that provides transportation, lodging, and meal assistance to certain patients and their family members.

Concerning a proposal under which physicians would invest in a company that would provide pathology laboratory management services to a third party.

Concerning a proposal for ophthalmologists in a group practice to co-manage cataract surgery patients, including Medicare beneficiaries, with optometrists external to that group practice who would separately charge the beneficiaries for services related to premium refractive intraocular lenses that are not covered by the Medicare program.

Concerning a proposal for a county which provides emergency medical services ("EMS") transportation through its fire department, to treat revenue received from taxes as payment of otherwise applicable cost-sharing amounts owed by bona fide county residents for EMS transportation to hospitals.

Concerning a health system's proposal to enter into arrangements to provide neuro emergency clinical protocols and immediate consultations with stroke neurologists via telemedicine technology to certain community hospitals.

Concerning two proposals by a supplier that furnishes medical supplies, equipment, and related services to enter into a contract with a skilled nursing facility to provide such items and services.