New York State has very specific laws prohibiting kickback referral schemes when it comes to patient care and the practice of medicine. ZocDoc's headquarters is based in New York, and they tried to file an exemption to the law with New York's Office of Inspector General. If it's illegal to charge referral fees for patients with Medicare and Medicaid insurance, why is ZocDoc trying to charge these fees for patients with private insurance? New York State Education Law § 6530 19. Permitting any person to share in the fees for professional services, other than: a partner, employee, associate in a professional firm or corporation, professional subcontractor or consultant authorized to practice medicine, or a legally authorized trainee practicing under the supervision of a licensee. This prohibition shall include any arrangement or agreement whereby the amount received in payment for furnishing space, facilities, equipment or personnel services used by a licensee constitutes a percentage of, or is otherwise dependent upon, the income or receipts of the licensee from such practice, except as otherwise provided by law with respect to a facility licensed pursuant to article twenty-eight of the public health law or article thirteen of the mental hygiene law.