Which act is primarily concerned with preventing fraud in federal healthcare programs?

The primary purpose of the Anti-Kickback Statute is to prevent fraud and abuse in federal healthcare programs by prohibiting the payment or receipt of any remuneration to induce or reward patient referrals or the generation of federal healthcare program business. This statute is crucial because it addresses practices that can compromise the integrity of the healthcare system, ensuring that medical decisions are made based on patient needs rather than financial incentives.

The Anti-Kickback Statute is broadly defined, covering a wide range of activities that may be considered as kickbacks. It aims to protect patients and federal healthcare programs from undue influence that could lead to unnecessary services or inflated costs due to improper financial arrangements among healthcare providers.

While other acts, such as the False Claims Act and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, deal with various aspects of healthcare fraud, their focus is different. The False Claims Act addresses false claims submitted to the government for reimbursement, while the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act provides additional resources and tools to combat healthcare fraud rather than specifically targeting the inducement aspect of kickback arrangements. The focus of the question emphasizes the prevention of fraudulent activities related to financial incentives, making the Anti-Kickback Statute the most appropriate answer.