Certified Professional in Health Care Risk Management (CPHRM) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CPHRM Practice Questions and Study Guide

Receiving a kickback for a referral is considered illegal and punishable under the Anti-kickback statutes. These laws are designed to prevent corruption in healthcare by prohibiting the exchange of remuneration for referrals of services covered by government health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The rationale behind this is that financial incentives can lead to overutilization of services, increased costs, and compromise patient care, as decisions may be driven by profit motives rather than patient needs.

The severity of this violation is reinforced by the potential criminal penalties, which can include substantial fines and imprisonment, as well as civil penalties. This underscores the principle that any financial arrangements in healthcare must be transparent and align with ethical practices to protect both patients and the integrity of the healthcare system. In contrast to the other options, which suggest legality or triviality, the reality is that kickbacks threaten the ethical foundation of healthcare delivery, warranting strict enforcement against such actions.