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119-s-3593119th Congress

Punishing Health Care Fraudsters Act

Sponsored By: Senator Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

Introduced

Summary

Tougher penalties for health-care fraud. This bill would increase prison terms and fines for people who defraud federal health programs and require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to update guidelines to reflect those changes. It targets criminal fraud under 18 U.S.C. 1347 and civil enforcement under the Social Security Act.

Show full summary
  • People accused of health-care fraud: raises some maximum prison terms to as much as 25 or 30 years and increases criminal penalties tied to health-care fraud for individuals and organizations convicted under the criminal statute.
  • Federal health programs and beneficiaries: boosts civil monetary penalties up to $250,000 per violation and raises per-violation caps to $100,000 in specified sections, increasing the financial exposure for false claims and harmful conduct against programs like Medicare.
  • Sentencing and courts: directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend sentencing guidelines for covered offenses. The Commission must consider loss and victim impact, sophistication and planning, intent to cause harm, unauthorized disclosure of health information, threats to public health, and the defendants role and duration of the offense.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher penalties for health care fraud

This bill would raise criminal and civil penalties for health care fraud. It would increase the maximum prison term under 18 U.S.C. 1347 from 10 years to 25 years, and in some cases from 20 years to 30 years. It would raise fines in section 1128B, including raising $100,000 penalties to $250,000, changing a $20,000 figure to $100,000, and replacing a $4,000 penalty with $100,000 while lengthening a six-month minimum to one year. It would also require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend sentencing guidelines for these offenses. These changes would apply to acts, statements, and representations on or after the date of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

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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