What is defined as a referral under the Anti-Kickback Statute?

A referral under the Anti-Kickback Statute is broadly defined as any action directing a patient to a provider for care. This encompasses a wide range of actions, rather than being limited to only formal written recommendations or specific types of communication. The primary concern of the Anti-Kickback Statute is to prevent financial incentives from unduly influencing a healthcare provider's decision to refer patients, which could lead to unnecessary procedures or services that may not be in the best interest of the patient. Thus, any way a healthcare provider influences a patient to seek care from a specific provider falls under this definition, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity in healthcare referrals to promote patient welfare and reduce conflicts of interest.