Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1637 amends the Human Resources Code to increase the financial penalties for Medicaid-related fraud if the fraud results in injury to an elderly person, a disabled person, or a child. The act prohibits a provider found liable for such fraud from participating in the Medicaid program for 10 years and authorizes the Texas Department of Human Services to adopt rules to extend this required period of ineligibility. In addition, the act permanently bars a provider from participating in the Medicaid program if the provider is convicted of criminal charges associated with Medicaid-related fraud that results in injury to an elderly person, a disabled person, or a child. A person who operates a nursing facility is not subject to certain of these provisions.

            House Bill 1637 is ineffective according to its provisions because of the enactment of Senate Bill 30.