2024 limits set for non-monetary physician compensation

Editor's Note:

Non-monetary compensation to physicians is limited to no more than $507 for calendar year 2024, according to a report on the federal Stark Law published December 27 in Lexology.

The Stark Law applies to non-cash or cash-equivalent payments from hospitals, physician groups, labs and other provider entities. The law also sets a limit of $44 per occurrence for “medical staff incidental benefits” provided by a hospital to a member of its medical staff (e.g., meals, parking and other items or incidental services that are used on a hospital’s campus). The report also notes that the limited renumeration exception is $5,913 for 2024 based on annual inflation adjustments, as specified in 2021 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Any entity providing “designated health services” should update its 2024 non-monetary and monetary compensation tracking tools to reflect the new limits, the report concludes. Entities also should ensure  non-monetary compensation in 2023 did not exceed last year’s limit ($489) and take corrective action to repay excess amounts.