Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8823
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-27T08:06:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8823
Purpose
This legislation amends the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) to permit the Secretary of Labor to suspend payments to medical providers convicted of fraud, with the goal of strengthening accountability for providers in the FECA program.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 8103 of title 5, United States Code, by adding a new subsection (c) that authorizes the Secretary of Labor to suspend payments or vouchers for services, appliances, or supplies if a provider has been convicted of fraud related to:
- FECA itself.
- Any federal health care benefit program.
- Any similar state program.
- Requires the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations to implement the suspension authority.
- Applies to payments made on or after 180 days following the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces the option for payment suspension based on fraud convictions, which was not previously available under FECA.
- Modifies existing language in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 8103 to make them subject to the new suspension rules in subsection (c).
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Enables the Department of Labor to withhold funds from fraudulent providers, potentially reducing improper expenditures in the FECA program.
- On citizens: Affects federal employees who receive medical services under FECA by limiting access to providers with fraud convictions, while also impacting those providers' ability to receive payments.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal employees and their employing agencies under FECA.
- Medical providers furnishing services, appliances, or supplies.
- The Department of Labor, which administers the program and must develop implementing regulations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill focuses on administrative authority for the Secretary of Labor without detailing specific due process procedures, leaving those to be addressed in future regulations.
- It expands oversight mechanisms within an existing federal compensation program but does not alter core constitutional structures or introduce new international obligations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 0.
- 2026-06-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (3 pages)