Medicare civil penalties about to go up

Written by Reed Tinsley | March 8, 2008

On Feb. 26, the Senate passed changes that would double civil penalties to $20,000 per false Medicare claim and quadruple criminal penalties to $100,000, according to the Congressional Record. The changes also would increase the maximum criminal sentence from five to 10 years. The amendment was submitted by Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) as part of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The bill (S. 1200) was sent to the full Senate by the Indian Affairs Committee on Feb. 25 with Martinez's amendments and passed on Feb. 26 by an 83-10 vote. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Reprinted from the March 3, 2008, REPORT ON MEDICARE COMPLIANCE.

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Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.

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