Protecting Taxpayers from Fraudulent Providers Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8865
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T18:19:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends title XI of the Social Security Act to permanently exclude certain healthcare providers from participating in Federal health care programs if they are convicted of fraud-related criminal offenses after the date of enactment.
Key Provisions
- Section 1 designates the short title as the "Protecting Taxpayers from Fraudulent Providers Act of 2026."
- Section 2 modifies section 1128 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7) as follows:
- In subsection (c)(3), adds a new subparagraph (H) requiring that exclusions under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(3) for convictions relating to fraud, theft, embezzlement, breach of fiduciary responsibility, or other financial misconduct be permanent when the conviction occurs on or after enactment.
- In subsection (d)(2)(B)(i), excludes these permanent exclusions from certain waiver or review processes.
- In subsection (g), adds a new paragraph (4) stating that prior provisions allowing for termination or modification of exclusions do not apply to these permanent exclusions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill alters current exclusion rules under section 1128, which previously allowed for time-limited exclusions or potential waivers in some cases. It introduces mandatory permanent bans specifically for post-enactment convictions involving financial misconduct in Federal health care programs, removing options for shorter periods or reinstatement.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Strengthens enforcement authority for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in administering Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal health care programs by eliminating reinstatement pathways for affected providers.
- Citizens: Aims to reduce taxpayer exposure to costs from fraudulent billing or misconduct by barring convicted providers indefinitely.
- International relations: No direct impacts identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Healthcare providers and entities convicted of specified fraud-related offenses.
- Federal health care programs and the agencies administering them.
- Taxpayers funding these programs.
- Patients receiving services through excluded providers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Limits administrative discretion and appeal mechanisms for certain exclusions, creating a stricter, non-revocable penalty structure.
- Constitutional: Raises potential considerations regarding due process for permanent professional exclusions, though the bill does not address or resolve such issues.
- Political: Focuses on anti-fraud measures in public health spending without altering broader program eligibility rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Taxpayers from Fraudulent Providers Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-15 — PDF (3 pages)