Special Fraud Alerts, Bulletins, and Other Guidance

Special Fraud Alerts

On this Page: Fraud Alerts | Bulletins | Other Guidance

09-04-2025

• Enforcement Alert: Information Blocking

12-11-2024

• Special Fraud Alert: Suspect Payments in Marketing Arrangements Related to Medicare Advantage and Providers

07-20-2022

• Special Fraud Alert: OIG Alerts Practitioners To Exercise Caution When Entering Into Arrangements With Purported Telemedicine Companies
  • Special Fraud Alert: Telehealth Video
• Updated Featured Topic: Telehealth

11-16-2020

• Special Fraud Alert: Speaker Programs

06-25-2014

• Special Fraud Alert: Laboratory Payments to Referring Physicians

03-26-2013

• Special Fraud Alert: Physician-Owned Entities

01-13-2010

• Updated Special Fraud Alert: Telemarketing by Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers
  • OIG Letter Regarding Updated Special Fraud Alert (03-02-2010): Telemarketing by Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers
  • CMS Telemarketing Frequently Asked Questions

03-03-2003

• Special Fraud Alert: Telemarketing By Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers

02-23-2000

• Rental of Space in Physician Offices by Persons or Entities to Which Physicians Refer

01-07-1999

• Physician Liability for Certifications in the Provision of Medical Equipment and Supplies and Home Health Services

03-1998

• Fraud and Abuse in Nursing Home Arrangement With Hospices

06-17-1996

• Provision of Services in Nursing Facilities

08-10-1995

• Publication of 2 Special Fraud Alerts addressing:
  • Home Health Fraud
  • Medical Services to Nursing Homes

12-19-1994

• Publication of 5 Special Fraud Alerts addressing:
  • Joint Venture Relationships
  • Routine Waiver of Part B Co-payments/Deductibles
  • Hospital Incentives to Referring Physicians
  • Prescription Drug Marketing Practices
  • Arrangements for the Provision of Clinical Lab Service

Special Advisory Bulletins

On this Page: Fraud Alerts | Bulletins | Other Guidance

01-27-2026

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Application of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute to Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Sales by Manufacturers to Patients With Federal Health Care Program Coverage

09-16-2014

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Copayment Coupons

05-21-2014

• Supplemental Special Advisory Bulletin: Independent Charity Patient Assistance Programs
  • News Release
  • Special Advisory Bulletin: Patient Assistance Programs for Medicare Part D Enrollees (11-07-2005)

05-08-2013

• Updated Special Advisory Bulletin on the Effect of Exclusions From Participation in Federal Health Programs

09-28-2010

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Average Manufacturer Price and Average Sales Price Reporting Requirements

11-07-2005

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Patient Assistance Programs for Medicare Part D Enrollees
  • Supplemental Special Advisory Bulletin: Independent Charity Patient Assistance Programs (05-21-2014)
• Text of Letter From Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the Honorable Billy Tauzin, President and CEO The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Concerning Patient Assistance Programs
• CMS Perspective on Pharmaceutical Company Patient Assistance Programs

04-23-2003

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Contractual Joint Ventures

08-30-2002

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Offering Gifts and Other Inducements To Beneficiaries
  • Policy Statement Regarding Gifts of Nominal Value To Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries

06-27-2001

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Practices of Business Consultants

11-09-1999

• Special Advisory Bulletin: Patient Anti-Dumping Statute

09-28-1999

• Special Advisory Bulletin: The Effect of Exclusion From Participation in Federal Health Care Programs
  • Press Release

08-19-1999

• OIG letter regarding hospital-physician incentive plans for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans

07-08-1999

• Gainsharing Arrangements and CMPs for Hospital Payments to Physicians to Reduce or Limit Services to Beneficiaries
• Recent Commentary Distorts HHS IG's Gainsharing Bulletin
• Solicitation of Comments on the OIG/HCFA Special Advisory Bulletin on the Patient Anti-Dumping Statute

Medicare Bulletins

• What Medicare Beneficiaries Need to Know About Health Maintenance Organizations
• Publication of the Medicare Advisory Bulletin on Hospice Benefits

Other Guidance

On this Page: Fraud Alerts | Bulletins | Other Guidance

01-06-2022

• OIG Enforcement Policy Statement Regarding OIG’s Assessment of Advisory Opinion Requests

12-07-2016

• Policy Statement Regarding Gifts of Nominal Value To Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries

06-22-2016

• Alert: Improper Arrangements and Conduct Involving Home Health Agencies and Physicians

10-30-2015

• OIG Policy Statement Regarding Hospitals That Discount or Waive Amounts Owed by Medicare Beneficiaries for Self-Administered Drugs Dispensed in Outpatient Settings

10-06-2015

• OIG Policy Reminder: Information Blocking and the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute
• From the IG: A Reminder about Information Blocking and the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute

06-09-2015

• Fraud Alert: Physician Compensation Arrangements May Result in Significant Liability

11-24-2014

• OIG Alerts Tribes and Tribal Organizations To Exercise Caution in Using Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Funds

02-08-2012

• OIG Alerts Physicians to Exercise Caution When Reassigning Their Medicare Payments

10-20-2010

• Guidance for Implementing Permissive Exclusion Authority under Section 1128(b)(15) of the Social Security Act

06-25-2010

• OIG Policy Regarding Providers, Practitioners, and Suppliers That Waive Beneficiary Cost-Sharing Amounts Attributable to Retroactive Increases in Payment Rates Resulting from the Operation of New Federal Statutes or Regulations

07-23-2008

• OIG Policy Regarding Providers, Practitioners, and Suppliers That Waive Retroactive Beneficiary Cost-Sharing Amounts Attributable to Increased Payment Rates Under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008

09-13-2007

• Corporate Responsibility and Health Care Quality - A Resource for Health Care Boards of Directors

06-18-2007

• Addendum to "Hospital Discounts to Patients Who Cannot Afford to Pay their Hospital Bills (02-02-2004)"
• Hospital Discounts Offered To Patients Who Cannot Afford To Pay Their Hospital Bills (02-19-04)

10-06-2006

• Physician Investments in Medical Device Manufacturers and Distributors

07-01-2004

• An Integrated Approach to Corporate Compliance: A Resource for Health Care Boards of Directors

04-09-2004

• Education and Outreach Arrangements Between Medicare-Endorsed Discount Drug Card Sponsors and their Network Pharmacies

03-31-2004

• OIG Alerts Physicians About Added Charges for Covered Services

02-19-2004

• Hospital Discounts Offered To Patients Who Cannot Afford To Pay Their Hospital Bills
• Questions on Charges for the Uninsured: CMS Document
• Text of Letter From Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services, To Richard J. Davidson, President, American Hospital Association Concerning Charges for the Uninsured

04-08-2003

• OIG Warns Against Misuse of HHS Words, Symbols, Emblems

04-02-2003

• Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Compliance: A Resource for Health Care Boards of Directors

01-16-2003

• OIG letter on hospital corporation's medical malpractice insurance assistance program

12-09-2002

• OIG letter clarifying the provision of complimentary local transportation for program beneficiaries

07-17-2000

• Up-front Rebates, Prebates and Signing Bonus Payments

04-26-2000

• Discount Arrangements Involving Clinical Labs

04-20-2000

• Discount Arrangements Involving Ambulance Companies, Hospitals and Skilled-Nursing Facilities

12-13-1999

• Statement of Kevin McAnaney, Chief, Industry Guidance Branch, Office of Inspector General, before the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council

09-22-1999

• Discount Arrangements Between Clinical Labs and SNFs

03-16-1999

• Nephrologist - Home Dialysis Supplies Joint Venture

10-02-1997

• Free services performed by clinical laboratories

08-04-1997

• Free prostate biopsy needles

07-10-1997

• Provisions of free goods and services

07-03-1997

• Free computers, facsimile machines and other goods

11-02-1993

• Follow-up response to OIG's 12-22-92 letter

12-22-1992

• Application of anti-kickback statute to the acquisition of physician practices (letter to IRS)