H.R. 7569

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7569 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7569

To increase the penalties for health care fraud, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 13, 2026

Mr. Bean of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on 
Energy and Commerce, and 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To increase the penalties for health care fraud, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Punishing Health Care Fraudsters 
Act''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR HEALTH CARE FRAUD UNDER TITLE 18.

(a) In General.--Section 1347 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended, in the flush matter preceding subsection (b)--
(1) by striking ``10 years'' and inserting ``25 years''; 
and
(2) by striking ``20 years'' and inserting ``30 years''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to conduct occurring on or after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR ACTS INVOLVING FEDERAL HEALTH 
CARE PROGRAMS.

(a) In General.--Section 1128B of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1320a-7b) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$100,000'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``$250,000'';
(2) by striking ``10 years'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``25 years'';
(3) in subsection (a), in the flush matter following 
paragraph (6), by striking ``$20,000'' and inserting 
``$100,000''; and
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking ``$4,000'' and inserting 
``$100,000''; and
(B) by striking ``six months'' and inserting ``1 
year''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to acts occurring and statements or representations 
made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES SENTENCING GUIDELINES.

(a) Covered Offense Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered 
offense'' means--
(1) an offense under section 1347 of title 18, United 
States Code; and
(2) an offense under section 1128B of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b).
(b) Review.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of 
title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission 
shall review and, if appropriate, amend its guidelines and its policy 
statements applicable to persons convicted of a covered offense.
(c) Requirements.--In carrying out this section, the United States 
Sentencing Commission shall--
(1) ensure that the sentencing guidelines and policy 
statements reflect the seriousness of covered offenses, the 
growing incidence of covered offenses, and the need for an 
effective deterrent and appropriate punishment to prevent 
covered offenses;
(2) consider relevant factors and the extent to which the 
guidelines may or may not account for those factors, 
including--
(A) the potential and actual loss resulting from 
the covered offense, including the qualitative impact 
of the loss on each victim of the covered offense;
(B) the level of sophistication and planning 
involved in the covered offense;
(C) whether the covered offense was committed for 
purposes of commercial advantage or private financial 
benefit;
(D) whether, in committing the covered offense, the 
defendant acted with intent to cause harm, including 
physical, psychological, and emotional harm;
(E) the extent to which the covered offense 
resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of personal 
health information or violated the privacy rights of 
individuals harmed;
(F) whether the violation was intended to create or 
had the effect of creating a threat to public health or 
safety or a threat of injury to any person; and
(G) the role of the defendant in the covered 
offense and the duration of the covered offense;
(3) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant 
directives and with other sentencing guidelines;
(4) account for any additional aggravating or mitigating 
circumstances that might justify exceptions to the generally 
applicable sentencing ranges;
(5) make any necessary conforming changes to the sentencing 
guidelines; and
(6) ensure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes 
of sentencing as set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of title 18, 
United States Code.
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