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119-hr-7569119th Congress

Punishing Health Care Fraudsters Act

Sponsored By: Representative Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

Introduced

Summary

Tougher penalties for health care fraud. This bill would sharply raise criminal and civil punishments for schemes tied to federal health care programs and require a formal review of sentencing rules to reflect the harms caused.

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  • People who commit health care fraud would face much longer prison terms. Sentences under the main fraud statute would rise to as much as 25 years for many offenses and up to 30 years for the most serious cases.
  • Providers and others tied to federal health care programs would face bigger fines. Many civil penalties would increase to as much as $100,000 and criminal fines could reach $250,000.
  • The U.S. Sentencing Commission would have to review and, if appropriate, amend guidelines for these offenses. It must weigh factors such as victim loss, planning and sophistication, private financial gain, intent to harm, privacy violations involving personal health information, and threats to public health or safety.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher penalties for health fraud

This bill would raise criminal fines and prison limits for federal health-care fraud. It would change $100,000 fines to $250,000 and increase some maximum prison terms from 10 years to 25 years. It would also raise a $20,000 civil penalty to $100,000 and raise a $4,000 penalty to $100,000 while changing a six-month period to one year. The changes would apply to acts, statements, or conduct on or after the date of enactment.

Tougher sentencing rules for health fraud

This bill would define certain health-care fraud crimes as "covered offenses" and direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review sentencing guidelines. Covered offenses would include crimes under 18 U.S.C. 1347 and 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b. The Commission would be required to consider loss to victims, sophistication and planning, private financial gain, intent to cause harm, improper disclosure of health data, threats to public health or safety, and the defendant's role and duration. The goal would be tougher and more consistent sentences for these crimes.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

FL • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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