What does the Anti-Kickback Statute prohibit?

The Anti-Kickback Statute primarily aims to prevent interference with clinical decision-making and to combat fraud and abuse in healthcare by prohibiting certain financial relationships between healthcare providers and others that could lead to conflicts of interest. The correct answer highlights that soliciting and receiving payments for referrals is expressly forbidden under this statute.

This provision is pivotal because it addresses both sides of the transaction – not only the offering of financial incentives but also the acceptance of such inducements, which can undermine the integrity of medical decision-making. By making it illegal to solicit or receive payments in exchange for referrals, the statute helps maintain a focus on patient care rather than on financial gain, ensuring that healthcare providers act in the best interests of their patients.

The other choices do not fully capture the essence of the Anti-Kickback Statute. While accepting payments for referrals is certainly problematic, the statute's language specifically identifies both solicitation and receipt of payments as illegal. Discounts to patients and advertising medical services aren't inherently prohibited under the Anti-Kickback Statute unless they involve improper compensation or violate other regulatory guidelines. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the dual actions prohibited by the statute and reflects the comprehensive nature of compliance in healthcare practices.