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H.R. 8823 · House bill · 119th Congress
This bill explicitly authorizes the Department of Labor to suspend payments under the federal workers’ compensation program to certain providers convicted of fraud. (Current regulations establish various grounds for excluding a provider from payment under the program, including a conviction for fraudulent activity in connection with a federal or state medical benefit program.)
This Act may be cited as the “Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act”.
(a) In general.— Section 8103 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking “These expenses” and inserting “Subject to subsection (c), these expenses”;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking “The Secretary, under” and inserting “Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary, under”; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
“(c)
(1) The Secretary of Labor may suspend payments to a provider of services, appliances, or supplies furnished pursuant to subsection (a), or vouchers or certifications described in subsection (b) for the expenses incurred by the employing agency with respect to such a provider, if the provider has been convicted of fraud with respect to—
(A) this subchapter;
(B) any Federal health care benefit program (as defined in section 24 of title 18, United States Code); or
(C) any State program for which payments are made to providers for services, appliances, or supplies similar to such services, appliances, or supplies provided pursuant to this subchapter.
(2) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this subsection.”.
(b) Effective date.— The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to payments made to a provider of services, appliances, or supplies on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.