Medicare program; physician fee freeze sanctions--HHS. Final rule

This final rule sets forth OIG procedures for the imposition of civil money penalties and Medicare program exclusions on physicians who have chosen not to be participating physicians and who have raised charges to Medicare beneficiaries in violation of the freeze on such fees contained in section 2306 of Pub. L. 98-369, the Deficit Reduction Act (DEFRA). This final rule also modifies existing regulations to permit the OIG to impose civil money penalties and assessments on those individuals who have chosen to be participating physicians under the Medicare program and who have violated their participation agreements set forth in section 2306.