HHS Proposed Rules Would Expand Authority to Exclude Providers and Impose Monetary Penalties

On May 9 and May 12, 2014, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) published two proposed rules that would significantly expand the authority of the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) to exclude providers from participation in federal health care payor programs and impose civil monetary penalties. The proposed rules are authorized pursuant to the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“ACA”) as the ACA expanded the authority of OIG to protect federal health care programs from fraud and abuse.

The May 9, 2014 proposed rule would expand the OIG’s current powers to include permissive exclusion where an individual or entity is convicted of an offense that involves obstruction of an audit. Currently, the OIG’s exclusion authority only extends to convictions for obstructing an investigation into any criminal offense described under the mandatory exclusion authorities and certain permissive exclusion authorities.

In addition, the May 9, 2014 proposed rule would expand the OIG’s permissive exclusion authority regarding the failure to provide certain payment information. The OIG currently has authority to exclude only entities and individuals who directly provide services and fail to provide required payment information for those services. The proposed rule would expand this authority to include not only the individual or entity directly providing the services, but also any individual or entity ordering, referring, or certifying the need for such services.

The May 9, 2014 proposed rule also adds new exclusion authority for instances where an individual or entity knowingly makes, or causes to be made, a false statement, omission, or misrepresentation of a material fact in any application or contract to participate as a provider in a federal health care program.

HHS also proposes to remove the six-year statute of limitations for exclusions. This means that, under the proposed rule, an individual or entity could be subject to exclusion for actions that occurred at any time, including several years after any alleged wrongdoing has ended or been corrected.

Under the May 14, 2014 proposed rule, the OIG would be granted expanded authority to impose civil monetary penalties on providers and suppliers of federal healthcare. The proposed rule would allow a $10,000 per day penalty on providers and suppliers who fail to timely report and return an identified overpayment. The proposed rule also seeks to add a $15,000 per day penalty for failing to grant timely access to records. False statements, omissions, or misrepresentations of a material fact in any application, bid, or contract to participate or enroll as a provider under a federal health care program would be punishable with a fine up to $50,000 under the proposed rule.

Moreover, the May 14, 2014 proposed rule would also expand existing monetary penalties for arranging or contracting for the provision of services with an excluded individual or entity. A penalty of up to $10,000 is possible under the proposed rule for each separately billable item or service provided, furnished, ordered, or prescribed by an excluded individual, plus an assessment of not more than three times the amount billed for the item or service. If an item or service is not separately billable, the OIG will determine the penalty based on the number of days the excluded person was employed or contracted, and the person’s total compensation.

The May 9, 2014 proposed rule can be viewed here. The May 12, 2014 proposed rule can be viewed here. Both proposed rules are open to public comment. The deadline for public comments for the May 9, 2014 proposed rule is July 8, 2014. The deadline for the May 12 2014 proposed rule is July 11, 2014. Public comments can be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov.

For more information on this topic, you can reach Abby Pendleton, Esq. at apendleton@thehlp.com or Jessica Gustafson, Esq. at jgustafson@thehlp.com.