Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1419
Sponsor: Rep. Becerra, Xavier [D-CA-34]
Introduced: 2015-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Civil actions and liability
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Disability and paralysis
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health personnel
Inflation and prices
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social Security Administration
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: 

Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2015 

 
 Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to appropriate from the Social Security Trust Funds to the Social Security Administration for each fiscal year beginning FY2016 amounts for specified fraud and error prevention activities. Prescribes a formula for the calculation of such amounts, which include fines and civil monetary penalties recovered. 
 
Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) report to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a plan for conducting fraud and error prevention activities; (2) take any necessary actions to ensure that cooperative disability investigations (CDI) units have been established for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories; (3) conduct quality reviews in certain cases with respect to decisions in connection with the application for benefits under this title and SSAct title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI), in a sufficient number to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the Commissioner; (4) report annually to Congress the total number of cases selected for such quality review, the number of such cases in which a decision is remanded, and the number of such cases in which a decision is modified or reversed; and (5) report annually to Congress on the number of work-related continuing disability reviews conducted.
 
Allows the Commissioner to submit a combined annual report to specified congressional committees of certain information relating to disability benefits. 
 
Increases civil and criminal penalties for specified persons in positions of trust in certain cases of fraud, and requires inflation adjustments every four years for certain civil penalties.
 
Prohibits the Commissioner, in making any determination with respect to whether an individual is or continues to be under a disability, from considering (except for good cause) any evidence furnished by a physician or other health care provider who has been barred from practice, has been assessed a penalty for the submission of false evidence, or is excluded from participation in any federal health care program..
 
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to repeal program integrity adjustments after FY2014 to budget authority for continuing disability reviews and redeterminations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E356-357)
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Introduced in House