Stark Law Reform
Stark Exception
The current model of care for Medicare patients with a sleep illness is fragmented. The federal Stark Law prohibits sleep physicians from providing therapeutic durable medical equipment (DME) to Medicare patients for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Instead of receiving positive airway pressure (PAP) equipment and personalized treatment support from their physician and medical team, patients have to interact with an outside DME company. This adds an unnecessary layer of complexity to the treatment plan for Medicare patients, who often are overburdened with medical needs and decisions.
AASM is advocating for a Stark Law exception that will allow board-certified sleep medicine physicians to provide long-term care for Medicare patients with OSA. The AASM invites our members to learn more about the need for a Stark Law exception.
Get the Facts
- The Stark Law: Fragmenting Healthcare
- Sleep & the Stark Law: Increasing Risk to Patients
- Fraud & the Stark Law
- Stark Law Exception: Allowing Coordinated Care for Medicare Patients
- Sleep Without Stark: The Benefits of Coordinated Care
Senate Report
- Why Stark, Why Now? Suggestions to Improve the Stark Law to Encourage Innovative Payment Models – A Senate Finance Committee Majority Staff Report