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The Stark self-referral law is arguably one the most important federal regulations when it comes to physician compensation, and proposed changes attached to the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule may make complying with the regulation a little more difficult. The third phase in the final Stark ruling-known as Stark II, Phase III-was originally scheduled to be released March 26, but CMS extended the timetable for the final release by one year, and it is now due in the spring of 2008. However, the agency has included some major revisions in the latest fee schedule that, if passed, would go into effect just a few months before the final ruling.