Opinion: Health care needs a Black Friday sale: the case for legalizing discounts on medical services
The best time to buy a car is at model year-end sales, and Black Friday deals can’t be beat for major appliances. Ever wonder why you don’t see a President’s Day sale on colonoscopies? Or ads for buy-one-get-one free knee replacements?
In most instances, offering patients a discount on health care services would be considered an improper patient inducement under the federal Civil Monetary Penalties Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute. These laws reason that discounts encourage patients to seek unnecessary care and overuse services — as though anyone would schedule a colonoscopy for fun!
