Browse Advisory Opinions

Regarding an arrangement under which a discount medical plan organization ("DMPO") pays chiropractors and chiropractic clinics a fee for each new DMPO member referred by the chiropractor or chiropractic clinic.

Regarding a hospital's provision of discounted training to a specified fire department's personnel at the hospital's facility.

Regarding a supermarket's proposal to expand its current loyalty program to allow customers to earn rewards points on out-of-pocket costs paid in connection with pharmacy purchases.

Regarding a proposed purchase of real estate from a limited liability company owned, in part, by an excluded individual.

Regarding a technology company's proposal to make visible to Federal health care program beneficiaries: (i) its online healthcare directory for searching and booking medical appointments, where healthcare professionals pay, or would pay, per-click or per-booking fees to be listed in the directory; and (ii) sponsored advertisements on its online healthcare directory and third-party websites, where healthcare professionals pay, or would pay, per-impression or per-click fees for such sponsored advertisements (the "Proposed Arrangement").

Regarding a program offered by a medical center that provides free, in-home follow-up care to eligible individuals with congestive heart failure (the "Current Arrangement") and the proposed expansion of this program to include certain individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Regarding a pharmaceutical manufacturer's proposal to loan, on a temporary basis, a limited- functionality smartphone to financially needy patients who do not have the technology necessary to receive adherence data from a sensor embedded in prescribed antipsychotic medication.

Regarding a charitable pediatric clinic's arrangement under which the clinic waives cost-sharing amounts in certain circumstances.

Regarding a drug company's proposal to provide free product to hospitals for the hospitals to use exclusively to treat inpatients who have been diagnosed with one particular condition.

Regarding proposed donations from a charitable trust and an individual donor to a medical research institute.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby an insurance company would contract indirectly with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for its policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 off the next renewal premium to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay (the "Proposed Arrangement").

Regarding a health plan's proposal to pay its contracted providers and clinics to increase the amount of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment services that they provide to the health plan's enrolled Medicaid beneficiaries.

Regarding a surgical device and wound care product manufacturer's proposal to offer hospital customers a warranty program covering a suite of three products.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby an insurance company would contract indirectly with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for its policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 off the next renewal premium to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding a proposal by certain government-operated fire departments and fire protection districts to enter into a mutual aid agreement to provide backup emergency ambulance services and to bill for such services according to the billing practices in the jurisdiction where such services are rendered.

Regarding a proposal from a group purchasing organization ("GPO") to serve as a purchasing agent on behalf of certain GPO-affiliated health care facilities on the same terms and conditions that apply to its unaffiliated members.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby an insurance company would contract indirectly with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for its policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 off the next renewal premium to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding an arrangement under which a hospital has established a caregiver center that provides or arranges for free or reduced-cost support services to caregivers in the local community.

Regarding the use of a "preferred hospital" network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance ("Medigap") policies, whereby insurance companies would contract indirectly with hospitals for discounts on the otherwise-applicable Medicare inpatient deductibles for their policyholders and, in turn, would provide a premium credit of $100 to policyholders who use a network hospital for an inpatient stay.

Regarding a federally qualified health center look-alike's proposal to provide information technology items and services, without charge, to a county Department of Health's clinic to facilitate telemedicine encounters.