OIG issues advisory opinion on patient gift cards

A health system’s proposal to provide $10 gift cards to patients whose service expectations were not met would not constitute prohibited remuneration, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General concluded in an advisory opinion released July 7. The health system proposed to offer patients who experience service shortfalls, such as a 30-minute delay in service, gift cards for certain local vendors through a gift certificate service.

The cards would not be redeemable for cash or health care items or services, and the health system would track the cards to ensure the same patient did not receive multiple cards totaling more than $50 in value in one year.

[ via AHA News Now ]