Florida Assisted Living Facilities Practice Exam

Which action could be considered an example of patient brokering?

1. Paying a physician for recommendations

2. Facilitating resident transfers without consent

3. Offering discounts for referrals

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Paying a physician for recommendations

The action that could be considered an example of patient brokering is paying a physician for recommendations. Patient brokering refers to the practice of incentivizing medical professionals to refer patients in exchange for monetary benefits or other perks. This activity is illegal and unethical as it compromises the integrity of patient care, fosters conflicts of interest, and undermines the trust in the healthcare system. While offering discounts for referrals could also fit under the umbrella of patient brokering, the direct payment to a physician is a more clear-cut example of this unethical practice. Facilitating resident transfers without consent is a separate issue that pertains more to the rights and autonomy of the resident rather than the financial incentives seen in patient brokering. As such, the most straightforward instance that embodies the concept of patient brokering is the act of paying a physician for recommendations.