Revisiting the Stark Laws

David Whelan, at Forbes, has posted a very interesting interview with Congressman Pete Stark about the "Stark laws" passed in 1989 and 1995. These laws control many relationships between and among doctors and hospitals. The interview is worth reading. I think it is really hard to write legislation in the health care arena that does not have some unintended consequences. The field is so complex that it is unlikely that even a well written bill won't have unforeseen effects in one or another sector.