Our facility is currently in debate on what entails a kickback and if it
constitutes as Medicare fraud.
The question revolves around the fact that our facility provides pap
smear supplies to local physicians for  free.  Our pathologist uses his
own billing agency and bills the patients for his interpretation but we
are not allowed to bill the patient or the physician for the supplies or
tech time.
Is this considered a Medicare kickback?
Another twist to this issue is the facility is doing pap smears for the
pathologist for free so that the pathologist does not charge the
laboratory to be the medical director.
Does this constitute as a Medicare kickback also?
Other hospitals in our area are doing this.

Anyone that has any information please respond.

Dave