S.B. No. 1694

AN ACT

relating to fraud investigations and criminal offenses involving the Medicaid program; providing criminal penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.1031 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.1031. DUTY TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF MEDICAID FRAUD OR ABUSE. (a) In this section:

(1) "Health care professional" means a person issued a license, registration, or certification to engage in a health care profession.

(2) "Participating agency" means:

(A) the Medicaid fraud enforcement divisions of the office of the attorney general; and

(B) each board or agency with authority to license, register, regulate, or certify a health care professional or managed care organization that may participate in the state Medicaid program.

(b) This section applies only to information held by a participating agency that relates to a health care professional or managed care organization that is the subject of an investigation by a participating agency for alleged fraud or abuse under the state Medicaid program.

(c) A participating agency may submit a written request for information regarding a health care professional or managed care organization that is the subject of an investigation by the participating agency to any other participating agency. The participating agency that receives the request shall provide the requesting agency with the information regarding the health care professional or managed care organization unless:

(1) the release of the information would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or prosecution by the participating agency with possession of the information; or

(2) the release of the information is prohibited by other law.

(d) A participating agency that discovers information that may indicate fraud or abuse by a health care professional or managed care organization may provide that information to any other participating agency unless the release of the information is prohibited by other law.

(e) Not later than the 30th day after the date the agency receives a request for information under Subsection (c), a participating agency that determines the agency is prohibited from releasing the requested information shall inform the agency requesting the information of that determination in writing.

(f) Confidential information shared under this section remains subject to the same confidentiality requirements and legal restrictions on access to the information that are imposed by law on the participating agency that originally obtained or collected the information. The sharing of information under this section does not affect whether the information is subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.

(g) A participating agency that receives information from another participating agency under this section must obtain written permission from the agency that shared the information before using the information in a licensure or enforcement action.

(h) This section does not affect the participating agencies' authority to exchange information under other law.

SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 32.039, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A person commits a violation if the person:

(1) presents or causes to be presented to the department a claim that contains a statement or representation the person knows or should know to be false;

(1-a) engages in conduct that violates Section 102.001, Occupations Code;

(1-b) solicits or receives, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly any remuneration, including any kickback, bribe, or rebate, in cash or in kind for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing of, or for arranging the furnishing of, any item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under the medical assistance program, provided that this subdivision does not prohibit the referral of a patient to another practitioner within a multispecialty group or university medical services research and development plan (practice plan) for medically necessary services;

(1-c) solicits or receives, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly any remuneration, including any kickback, bribe, or rebate, in cash or in kind for purchasing, leasing, or ordering, or arranging for or recommending the purchasing, leasing, or ordering of, any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under the medical assistance program;

(1-d) offers or pays, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly any remuneration, including any kickback, bribe, or rebate, in cash or in kind to induce a person to refer an individual to another person for the furnishing of, or for arranging the furnishing of, any item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under the medical assistance program, provided that this subdivision does not prohibit the referral of a patient to another practitioner within a multispecialty group or university medical services research and development plan (practice plan) for medically necessary services;

(1-e) offers or pays, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly any remuneration, including any kickback, bribe, or rebate, in cash or in kind to induce a person to purchase, lease, or order, or arrange for or recommend the purchase, lease, or order of, any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under the medical assistance program;

(1-f) provides, [or] offers, or receives an inducement in a manner or for a purpose not otherwise prohibited by this section or Section 102.001, Occupations Code, to or from a person [an individual], including a recipient, provider, [or] employee or agent of a provider, third-party vendor, or public servant, for the purpose of influencing or being influenced in a decision regarding:

(A) selection of a provider or receipt of a good or service under the medical assistance program;

(B) [or for the purpose of otherwise influencing a decision regarding] the use of goods or services provided under the medical assistance program; or

(C) the inclusion or exclusion of goods or services available under the medical assistance program; or

(2) is a managed care organization that contracts with the department to provide or arrange to provide health care benefits or services to individuals eligible for medical assistance and:

(A) fails to provide to an individual a health care benefit or service that the organization is required to provide under the contract with the department;

(B) fails to provide to the department information required to be provided by law, department rule, or contractual provision;

(C) engages in a fraudulent activity in connection with the enrollment in the organization's managed care plan of an individual eligible for medical assistance or in connection with marketing the organization's services to an individual eligible for medical assistance; or

(D) engages in actions that indicate a pattern of:

(i) wrongful denial of payment for a health care benefit or service that the organization is required to provide under the contract with the department; or

(ii) wrongful delay of at least 45 days or a longer period specified in the contract with the department, not to exceed 60 days, in making payment for a health care benefit or service that the organization is required to provide under the contract with the department.

SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 32.0391, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly commits a violation under Section 32.039(b)(1-b), (1-c), (1-d), [or] (1-e), or (1-f).

SECTION 4. Subsection (c-1), Section 32.46, Penal Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c-1) An offense described for purposes of punishment by Subsections (b)(1)-(6) and (c) is increased to the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was committed against an elderly individual as defined by Section 22.04 or involves the state Medicaid program.

SECTION 5. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 35A.02, Penal Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) knowingly makes or causes to be made a false statement or misrepresentation of a material fact to permit a person to receive a benefit or payment under the Medicaid program that is not authorized or that is greater than the benefit or payment that is authorized;

(2) knowingly conceals or fails to disclose information that permits a person to receive a benefit or payment under the Medicaid program that is not authorized or that is greater than the benefit or payment that is authorized;

(3) knowingly applies for and receives a benefit or payment on behalf of another person under the Medicaid program and converts any part of the benefit or payment to a use other than for the benefit of the person on whose behalf it was received;

(4) knowingly makes, causes to be made, induces, or seeks to induce the making of a false statement or misrepresentation of material fact concerning:

(A) the conditions or operation of a facility in order that the facility may qualify for certification or recertification required by the Medicaid program, including certification or recertification as:

(i) a hospital;

(ii) a nursing facility or skilled nursing facility;

(iii) a hospice;

(iv) an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded;

(v) an assisted living facility; or

(vi) a home health agency; or

(B) information required to be provided by a federal or state law, rule, regulation, or provider agreement pertaining to the Medicaid program;

(5) except as authorized under the Medicaid program, knowingly pays, charges, solicits, accepts, or receives, in addition to an amount paid under the Medicaid program, a gift, money, a donation, or other consideration as a condition to the provision of a service or product or the continued provision of a service or product if the cost of the service or product is paid for, in whole or in part, under the Medicaid program;

(6) knowingly presents or causes to be presented a claim for payment under the Medicaid program for a product provided or a service rendered by a person who:

(A) is not licensed to provide the product or render the service, if a license is required; or

(B) is not licensed in the manner claimed;

(7) knowingly makes a claim under the Medicaid program for:

(A) a service or product that has not been approved or acquiesced in by a treating physician or health care practitioner;

(B) a service or product that is substantially inadequate or inappropriate when compared to generally recognized standards within the particular discipline or within the health care industry; or

(C) a product that has been adulterated, debased, mislabeled, or that is otherwise inappropriate;

(8) makes a claim under the Medicaid program and knowingly fails to indicate the type of license and the identification number of the licensed health care provider who actually provided the service;

(9) knowingly enters into an agreement, combination, or conspiracy to defraud the state by obtaining or aiding another person in obtaining an unauthorized payment or benefit from the Medicaid program or a fiscal agent;

(10) is a managed care organization that contracts with the Health and Human Services Commission or other state agency to provide or arrange to provide health care benefits or services to individuals eligible under the Medicaid program and knowingly:

(A) fails to provide to an individual a health care benefit or service that the organization is required to provide under the contract;

(B) fails to provide to the commission or appropriate state agency information required to be provided by law, commission or agency rule, or contractual provision; or

(C) engages in a fraudulent activity in connection with the enrollment of an individual eligible under the Medicaid program in the organization's managed care plan or in connection with marketing the organization's services to an individual eligible under the Medicaid program;

(11) knowingly obstructs an investigation by the attorney general of an alleged unlawful act under this section or under Section 32.039, 32.0391, or 36.002, Human Resources Code; or

(12) knowingly makes, uses, or causes the making or use of a false record or statement to conceal, avoid, or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to this state under the Medicaid program.

(b) An offense under this section is:

(1) a Class C misdemeanor if the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is less than $50;

(2) a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is $50 or more but less than $500;

(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is $500 or more but less than $1,500;

(4) a state jail felony if:

(A) the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is $1,500 or more but less than $20,000;

(B) the offense is committed under Subsection (a)(11); or

(C) it is shown on the trial of the offense that the amount of the payment or value of the benefit described by this subsection cannot be reasonably ascertained;

(5) a felony of the third degree if the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is $20,000 or more but less than $100,000;

(6) a felony of the second degree if the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is $100,000 or more but less than $200,000; or

(7) a felony of the first degree if the amount of any payment or the value of any monetary or in-kind benefit provided or claim for payment made under the Medicaid program, directly or indirectly, as a result of the conduct is $200,000 or more.

SECTION 6. Subdivision (2), Article 59.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(2) "Contraband" means property of any nature, including real, personal, tangible, or intangible, that is:

(A) used in the commission of:

(i) any first or second degree felony under the Penal Code;

(ii) any felony under Section 15.031(b), 20.05, 21.11, 38.04, Subchapter B of Chapter 43, or Chapter 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 33A, or 35, Penal Code;

(iii) any felony under The Securities Act (Article 581-1 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); or

(iv) any offense under Chapter 49, Penal Code, that is punishable as a felony of the third degree or state jail felony, if the defendant has been previously convicted three times of an offense under that chapter;

(B) used or intended to be used in the commission of:

(i) any felony under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act);

(ii) any felony under Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code;

(iii) a felony under Chapter 153, Finance Code;

(iv) any felony under Chapter 34, Penal Code;

(v) a Class A misdemeanor under Subchapter B, Chapter 365, Health and Safety Code, if the defendant has been previously convicted twice of an offense under that subchapter;

(vi) any felony under Chapter 152, Finance Code;

(vii) any felony under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, or Chapter 31, 32, 35A, or 37, Penal Code, that involves the state Medicaid program[, or any felony under Chapter 36, Human Resources Code]; or

(viii) a Class B misdemeanor under Section 35.60, Business & Commerce Code;

(C) the proceeds gained from the commission of a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, a misdemeanor listed in Paragraph (B)(viii) of this subdivision, or a crime of violence;

(D) acquired with proceeds gained from the commission of a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, a misdemeanor listed in Paragraph (B)(viii) of this subdivision, or a crime of violence; or

(E) used to facilitate or intended to be used to facilitate the commission of a felony under Section 15.031 or 43.25, Penal Code.

SECTION 7. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense or violation committed on or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) An offense or violation committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the offense or violation was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense or violation was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense or violation was committed before that date.

SECTION 8. (a) Section 531.1031, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an investigation of an act committed on or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) An investigation of an act committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the act was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

* * * * *

____________________________________________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1694 passed the Senate on April 19, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1694 passed the House on May 4, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________ ______________________________

Date

______________________________ ______________________________

Governor