In the context of Stark Law, what is a violation that Dr. Cates committed?

In the context of Stark Law, the violation committed by Dr. Cates relates to referring a patient to a relative for services. Stark Law, primarily aimed at preventing physician self-referrals, prohibits physicians from referring Medicare patients to entities with which they have a financial relationship, unless certain exceptions apply. Referrals made to family members can raise significant issues under this law because they create potential conflicts of interest and may compromise the integrity of medical decisions, with the possibility of patient care being influenced by personal financial gain rather than the patient's best interests.

This specific violation underscores the importance of maintaining clear boundaries in professional relationships to ensure that referrals are made based solely on the quality of care and medical necessity, rather than familial connections or financial interests. Thus, the action of referring a patient to a relative aligns directly with the concerns that Stark Law seeks to address.