US House of representatives Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and William Keating (D-Mass.) introduced a bill to amend title XI of the SSA to expand fraud fighting efforts on May 18th. The bill would let the OIG (Office of the Inspector General) exclude individuals from healthcare programs if they are affiliated with an organization that has been penalized for certain types of medical fraud. This means that executives of a company found to be engaging in fraudulent activity cannot avoid exclusion from future participation in Medicare or Medicaid programs by resigning prior to penalization of the company. This bill is one step closer towards the OIGs recommendations to take a stronger stance on pursuing healthcare fraud.
Want to learn more?
Memorandum – Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing
Lawmakers Propose Expanding OIGs health Program Exclusion Authority
Why healthcare executives should take note of the DOJ’s recent Memo