Browse Advisory Opinions

Concerning a non-profit community health services organization's proposal to begin billing Medicaid for dental services provided to its patients, while continuing to provide free dental services to uninsured and underinsured financially needy children.

Concerning a proposal to offer members of a group purchasing organization ("GPO") an equity interest in the GPO's parent organization in exchange for the member: (1) extending its contract with the GPO for five to seven years; (2) committing not to decrease purchasing volume; and (3) relinquishing its right to a portion of the administrative fees that would otherwise have been passed through to the members.

Concerning an exclusive contract for emergency medical services and transports between a municipality and an ambulance company. The opinion addresses the aspect of the contract that requires the ambulance company to reimburse the municipality for a portion of the costs of providing emergency dispatch services.

Concerning a proposal to establish a limited liability company that would enter into arrangements with manufacturers and other entities to provide industrial orthotics for use by these entities' employees.

Concerning a hospital's proposal to provide free access to an electronic interface to community physicians and physician practices that would allow those physicians and practices to transmit orders for certain services to, and receive the results of those services from, the hospital.

Concerning four proposed arrangements involving a pharmacy company's provision of items and services to community homes in which its customers reside.

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

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

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.

Concerning an existing arrangement and a proposed arrangement involving contracts between a durable medical equipment ("DME") supplier and various independent diagnostic testing facilities ("IDTF"), pursuant to which IDTF staff members perform certain services on behalf of the DME supplier.

Concerning the expansion of a vaccine reminder program to include entities that insure and treat patients covered by a fee-for-service Federal health care program.

Concerning an online referral service whereby post-acute care providers would pay a fee to electronically receive and respond to referral requests from hospitals for post-discharge care.

Concerning the formation of a new long-term care pharmacy and the agreement to manage all of its day-to-day operations and provide all personnel and related services necessary for its operation.

Concerning a complimentary local transportation arrangement whereby a hospital would transport patients from physician offices located on, or contiguous to, the hospital's campus to the hospital if the patients require further treatment and cannot transport themselves.