U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (R-FL), who represents Florida’s 4th district, has introduced new legislation in the House aimed at increasing penalties for health care fraud. The bill, known as the Punishing Health Care Fraudsters Act (H.R. 7569), seeks to impose stricter financial and criminal consequences on individuals found guilty of defrauding the health care system.
Bean stated, “Health care fraud steals directly from hardworking Americans and weakens the integrity of our health system. Taxpayers are tired of getting ripped off, and I’m fed up, too. Every dollar stolen from taxpayers is one dollar too many. With the introduction of this bill, the days of soft penalties and leniency for fraudsters are over. If you defraud the federal government, be prepared to face serious consequences.”
The proposed House bill is a companion to Senate Bill S.3593, which was introduced by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL). Moody commented on the measure’s significance: “For too long, the American taxpayer has been abused at the hands of criminals who bilk weaknesses in our laws and leaders that won’t bolster enforcement. I applaud the White House for creating a new Assistant Attorney General position to investigate this deep-rooted fraud. The fraud that has been exposed in recent weeks is a cancer that undermines trust and stability in critical programs, steals resources from those who truly need them, and raises the cost on consumers. The recently uncovered instances of health and social services fraud in Minnesota have been further proof of just how pervasive this threat is, and my Punishing Health Care Fraudsters Act sends a clear message that we will protect the American taxpayer.”
If enacted, H.R. 7569 would increase prison sentences for general health care fraud from 10 years to up to 25 years, with cases involving bodily injury punishable by up to 30 years instead of 20. Fines for defrauding federal health programs would rise from $100,000 to $250,000; maximum prison time would also increase from 10 to 25 years. Other offenses such as making false statements or using another person’s information could see fines rise from $20,000 to $100,000.
Additionally, illegal kickbacks related to these schemes could result in fines up to $250,000. Medicare providers found repeatedly committing fraud may face fines up to $100,000—an increase from $4,000—and potential prison terms extended from six months to one year.
The United States Sentencing Commission would be required to update its guidelines based on these changes.
Bean has served as U.S. Representative since 2023 after replacing John Rutherford in Florida’s 4th district (https://www.house.gov/representatives#state-fl). Before his election to Congress he held positions in both chambers of Florida’s state legislature between 2000 and 2022 (https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s4).
Bean was born in Fernandina Beach in 1967 where he currently resides; he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville University in 1989.
