Stark I and Stark II laws primarily regulate what practice?

The Stark I and Stark II laws are primarily focused on regulating physician self-referral practices. These laws were enacted to prevent potential conflicts of interest that may arise when physicians refer patients to healthcare services in which they have financial interests. By establishing strict guidelines around self-referral, the Stark laws aim to ensure that medical decisions are made based on the best interests of the patient, rather than on the financial incentives of the referring physician.

The Stark laws outline specific arrangements and relationships that could lead to self-referral, helping to maintain ethical standards within the healthcare system. The regulation is critical in maintaining the integrity of healthcare practices and ensuring that referrals are based on medical necessity rather than financial gain.

The other options, such as patient privacy, medical billing, and healthcare fraud, while important within the healthcare framework, do not directly relate to the focus of the Stark laws on self-referral practices.