Offering $100 for each patient referral violates which statute?

Offering $100 for each patient referral violates the Anti-Kickback Statute because this regulation prohibits the exchange of anything of value in return for referrals of services or items that are reimbursable under federal healthcare programs. The intent behind the Anti-Kickback Statute is to prevent fraud and abuse in healthcare, ensuring that treatment decisions are made based on patient needs rather than financial incentives.

In this scenario, the practice of providing a monetary reward for patient referrals creates a significant risk of encouraging unnecessary services or prioritizing financial gain over patient welfare. This action undermines the integrity of the healthcare system and can lead to higher costs and potential harm to patients, which is precisely what the Anti-Kickback Statute aims to combat.

The other options pertain to different aspects of healthcare compliance; for instance, the False Claims Act relates to submitting false claims for payment, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act focuses on patient privacy and data security, and the Red Flags Rule deals with identity theft prevention, thus making them unrelated to the specific issue of referral incentives.