The Office of Inspector General recently determined that a nonprofit skilled nursing facility that provides complimentary local transportation for friends and family of residents would not constitute grounds for the imposition of civil monetary penalties under the Social Security Act.

The OIG also found in its OIG Advisory Opinion issued March 6 that while the action potentially generates fines under the federal anti-kickback statute, the OIG said it would not impose administrative sanctions as a result of the proposal.

The OIG began noted that free transportation programs can have a beneficial effect on resident care, depending on the circumstances. The OIG stated that such arrangements must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.