A Joint Venture Agreement and Central Park Medical Group Essay

A Joint Venture Agreement and Central Park Medical Group - Essay Example This is essentially what I am being asked to do; I am being asked to pay "monthly bonuses" to the Central Park Medical Group in order to form a business arrangement in which patients of the Central Park Medical Group are sent to my establishment, Sundown Community Hospital. In addition, it seems that the board, as well as myself, are fully aware of the fact that 60% of the Central Park Medical Group patients are covered by government health coverage. This is obviously why the board is eager to seal this deal with the medical group. The fact that this is a joint venture agreement makes some of the facts a bit subject to interpretation as the Board of Medical Directors has implemented certain rules depending on the state. Anti-kickback statutes specifically state that income that may surface from joint venture activities must be compensation for services rendered. The "bonuses" given to physicians in the joint venture agreement between my organization and the medical group in question is very clearly not for any purpose but a referral incentive. The Medicare and Medicaid Protection Act of 1987 clearly states that the type of actions described by the board to me as the administrator would qualify as a federal offense punishable with fines of up to $25,000 as well as other possible sentencing. I absolutely would make this clear to the board, that the terms under which they would like to issue the joint venture agreement are not only unethical but also illegal and could result in criminal prosecutions of not only board members but the members of the Central Park Medical group and myself. My suggestions would follow a more legal and ethical approach. I would suggest to the board that first of all, each and every board member refresh their reading on anti-kickback statutes and laws. I would remind the board that although certain allowances are made in these statutes, the terms which they have decided on regarding the medical group in question are specifically why the statutes are in place, to begin with. I would resubmit to the board a legal revision of the arrangement. It would include the merger between the Central Park Medical Group and the Sundown Community Hospital as one that promoted a helpful liaison to the patients, regardless of their insurance type. This would under no circumstances include any type of monetary gain from Sundown to the medical group, in the form of bonuses or perks. By definition of a joint venture agreement, the compensation received by the medical group would be limited to shared profit as well as losses. This is simply the only legal and ethical way to enter into such an agreement under these circumstances. I would also stress to everyone involved that since we are dealing with a medical group that has made us aware of their 60% Medicare patients, that we as the Sundown Community Health Center should be that much more concerned for the how the legality of this union appears. There should be careful measures taken to ensure that no one is receiving any type of kickback of any sort. I would also emphasize that since we are indeed a community center, we should be focused on the needs and best interest of the community and not our personal gains from the members of that community. In addition, I would remind everyone involved of the case of Feldstein M.D. vs Nash Community Health Services Inc.