Fighting Medicare Fraud Act of 2018

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to expand the permissive exclusion from Federal health programs to include certain individuals with prior interest in sanctioned entities and entities affiliated with sanctioned entities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fighting Medicare Fraud Act of 2018 2. Permissive exclusion from Federal health programs expanded to certain individuals with prior interest in sanctioned entities and entities affiliated with sanctioned entities Paragraph (15) of section 1128(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7(b) (15) Individuals and entities affiliated with a sanctioned entity (A) Any of the following: (i) Any individual who— (I) is a person with an ownership or control interest in a sanctioned entity or an affiliated entity of such sanctioned entity (or was a person with such an ownership or control interest at the time of any of the conduct that formed a basis for the conviction or exclusion described in subparagraph (B)); and (II) knows or should have known (as defined in section 1128A(i)(7)) (or knew or should have known) of such conduct. (ii) Any individual who is an officer or managing employee (as defined in section 1126(b)) of a sanctioned entity or affiliated entity of such sanctioned entity (or was such an officer or managing employee at the time of any of the conduct that formed a basis for the conviction or exclusion described in subparagraph (B)). (iii) Any affiliated entity of a sanctioned entity. (B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term sanctioned entity (i) that has been convicted of any offense described in subsection (a) of this section or in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection; or (ii) that has been excluded from participation under a program under title XVIII or under a State health care program. (C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term affiliated entity (i) that is a person with an ownership or control interest in such sanctioned entity (or was such a person with respect to such sanctioned entity at the time of any conduct that formed the basis for the conviction described in subparagraph (B)); (ii) with respect to which a sanctioned entity is a person with an ownership or control interest in such entity (or was such a person with respect to such entity at the time of any conduct that formed the basis for the conviction described in subparagraph (B)); (iii) with respect to which a person with an ownership or control interest in such entity also has such an interest in such sanctioned entity; and (iv) with respect to which a person who is an officer or managing employee (as defined in section 1126(b)) of such entity also is such an officer or managing employee of such sanctioned entity. (D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term person with an ownership or control interest . 3. Reports on incidences of fraud and abuse under Medicare parts C and D (a) In general Section 1857(d) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–27(d) (7) Report on incidences of fraud and abuse (A) In general A contract under this section with an MA organization offering an MA plan shall provide that such MA organization report to the Secretary (or to any person or organization designated by the Secretary for such purpose) any instances of fraud or abuse related to the payment or delivery of health benefits under such contract not later than 60 days after such organization identifies such instance. (B) Guidance Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General, shall issue to MA organizations (and PDP sponsors) guidance for defining the terms fraud abuse . (b) Conforming amendment to part D Section 1860D–12(b)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–112(b)(3)(C) , except in applying paragraph (7) of such section any reference to an MA organization, with respect to an MA plan, shall be deemed a reference to a PDP sponsor or MA organization, with respect to a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan (c) Effective date The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Fighting Medicare Fraud Act of 2018 This bill expands the authority of the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) to exclude from participation in federal health programs certain affiliates of a sanctioned entity. (A "sanctioned entity" is one that has been convicted of one of several specified crimes or&nbsp;excluded from participation under either Medicare or a state health care program.) In addition, the bill requires Medicare Advantage organizations to report instances of fraud or abuse to the CMS within 60 days.