What does Stark Law primarily prohibit?

Stark Law primarily prohibits physician self-referral, specifically the practice where physicians refer patients to facilities in which they have a financial interest. This law is intended to prevent conflicts of interest that could arise when medical decisions are influenced by financial gain rather than the best interests of the patient. By prohibiting such referrals, the Stark Law aims to ensure that decisions about patient care are made based on clinical need rather than the potential for financial benefit, thus promoting ethical medical practices and reducing the risks of overutilization of services.

The other options address different areas of healthcare regulation. Patient data sharing is generally governed by laws like HIPAA, which focuses on patient privacy and data security. Medical billing fraud involves fraudulent claims for services that were not rendered or were unnecessary, which is addressed by laws concerning healthcare fraud and abuse. Unauthorized access to health records pertains to breaches of patient confidentiality, which is also a violation under privacy laws like HIPAA. Each of these areas is critical, but they are not what Stark Law specifically targets.