The financial pressures presented by the pandemic have put their squeeze on physician pay, according to a new survey. Between 2019 and 2020, compensation for U.S. doctors grew on average about 1.5%, according to the fourth annual Physician Compensation Report from professional medical network Doximity. When compared against the 2019 inflation rate of 2.3%, physicians experienced a decline in real income over the last year, they said. “This year’s report shows how significantly the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the healthcare industry,” said Peter Alperin, MD, vice president at Doximity in a statement.

As physician compensation reform and regulatory scrutiny continue to be a focus of attention, parties are putting forth a more concentrated effort to ensure physician compensation arrangements are considered fair market value (FMV). The regulatory environment surrounding physician compensation can often be difficult to navigate, while also trying to balance making competitive offers and attracting and maintaining top talent. The most significant laws guiding physician compensation arrangements are the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law). To be compliant with these regulations, physician compensation must be set at FMV or risk potential for qui tam lawsuits, high dollar fines or even criminal charges. This article covers common mistakes that could potentially lead to violations of AKS or the Stark Law.

America’s coronavirus epidemic has placed an outsized burden on the country’s health care providers, with many medical professionals on the frontlines risking their own safety to care for patients with Covid-19. That danger is particularly great for America’s older medical workers, whose age puts them at a higher risk of developing a severe case of or dying from Covid-19—and now, many are choosing to retire early, close their practices, or change the way they work.