Which act authorized imposing civil monetary penalties against healthcare providers employing excluded individuals?

The Balanced Budget Act is the legislation that authorized the imposition of civil monetary penalties against healthcare providers who employ individuals who have been excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs. This act introduced measures to ensure that healthcare providers do not utilize the services of individuals who are barred from providing care due to issues such as fraud, abuse, or other disqualifying factors. By implementing these penalties, the Balanced Budget Act aims to protect public funds and ensure the integrity of healthcare practices.

In contrast, the Stark Law primarily focuses on prohibiting physician self-referral for certain health services, while the Anti-kickback Law addresses the prohibition of receiving kickbacks in exchange for referrals or services. The False Claims Act allows for penalties against individuals or entities that submit false claims for payment to Medicare or Medicaid but does not directly address the employment of excluded individuals. Each of these laws has a specific focus, but it is the Balanced Budget Act that directly ties to the penalties for employing excluded individuals.