shall be subject to, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law, a civil money penalty of not more than $5,000 for each such statement or representation or each receipt of such benefits or payments while withholding disclosure of such fact, except that in the case of such a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in connection with any such determination (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or former employee of the Social Security Administration) or who is a physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such determination, the amount of such penalty shall be not more than $7,500. Such person also shall be subject to an assessment, in lieu of damages sustained by the United States because of such statement or representation or because of such withholding of disclosure of a material fact, of not more than twice the amount of benefits or payments paid as a result of such a statement or representation or such a withholding of disclosure. In addition, the Commissioner of Social Security may make a determination in the same proceeding to recommend that the Secretary exclude, as provided in section 1320a-7 of this title, such a person who is a medical provider or physician from participation in the programs under subchapter XVIII.
the person is estopped from denying the essential elements of the criminal offense.
In determining pursuant to subsection (a) the amount or scope of any penalty or assessment, or whether to recommend an exclusion, the Commissioner of Social Security shall take into account-
A determination pursuant to subsection (a) by the Commissioner of Social Security to impose a penalty or assessment, or to recommend an exclusion shall be final upon the expiration of the 60-day period referred to in subsection (d). Matters that were raised or that could have been raised in a hearing before the Commissioner of Social Security or in an appeal pursuant to subsection (d) may not be raised as a defense to a civil action by the United States to collect a penalty or assessment imposed under this section.
Whenever the Commissioner's determination to impose a penalty or assessment under this section with respect to a medical provider or physician becomes final, the Commissioner shall notify the Secretary of the final determination and the reasons therefor, and the Secretary shall then notify the entities described in section 1320a-7a(h) of this title of such final determination.
Whenever the Commissioner of Social Security has reason to believe that any person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in any activity which makes the person subject to a civil monetary penalty under this section, the Commissioner of Social Security may bring an action in an appropriate district court of the United States (or, if applicable, a United States court of any territory) to enjoin such activity, or to enjoin the person from concealing, removing, encumbering, or disposing of assets which may be required in order to pay a civil monetary penalty and assessment if any such penalty were to be imposed or to seek other appropriate relief.
For purposes of this section, the term "State agency" shall have the same meaning as in section 1320a-7a(i)(1) of this title.
A principal is liable for penalties and assessments under subsection (a), and for an exclusion under section 1320a-7 of this title based on a recommendation under subsection (a), for the actions of the principal's agent acting within the scope of the agency.
As soon as the Inspector General, Social Security Administration, has reason to believe that fraud was involved in the application of an individual for monthly insurance benefits under subchapter II or for benefits under subchapter VIII or XVI, the Inspector General shall make available to the Commissioner of Social Security information identifying the individual, unless a United States attorney, or equivalent State prosecutor, with jurisdiction over potential or actual related criminal cases, certifies, in writing, that there is a substantial risk that making the information so available in a particular investigation or redetermining the eligibility of the individual for such benefits would jeopardize the criminal prosecution of any person who is a subject of the investigation from which the information is derived.
42 U.S.C. § 1320a-8
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTRule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. The Debt Collection Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(D), is Pub. L. 97-365, Oct. 25, 1982, 96 Stat. 1749. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1982 Amendment note set out under section 5514 of Title 5, Government Employees and Organization, and Tables.
PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 1320a-8, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XI, §1129, as added Dec. 5, 1980, Pub. L. 96-499, title IX, §914(a), 94 Stat. 2621; amended Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97-35, title XXI, §2193(c)(4), 95 Stat. 827; July 18, 1984, Pub. L. 98-369, div. B, title III, §2354(a)(4), 98 Stat. 1100, related to coordinated audits, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100-203, title IV, §4118(m)(1)(A), (2), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330-157, applicable to audits conducted after Dec. 22, 1987.
AMENDMENTS2015-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114-74, §813(c), in concluding provisions, inserted ",except that in the case of such a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in connection with any such determination (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or former employee of the Social Security Administration) or who is a physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such determination, the amount of such penalty shall be not more than $7,500" after "withholding disclosure of such fact".2004-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108-203, §201(a)(1), substantially rewrote par. (1). Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "Any person (including an organization, agency, or other entity) who makes, or causes to be made, a statement or representation of a material fact for use in determining any initial or continuing right to or the amount of-"(A) monthly insurance benefits under subchapter II,"(B) benefits or payments under subchapter VIII, or"(C) benefits or payments under subchapter XVI, that the person knows or should know is false or misleading or knows or should know omits a material fact or makes such a statement with knowing disregard for the truth shall be subject to, in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law, a civil money penalty of not more than $5,000 for each such statement or representation. Such person also shall be subject to an assessment, in lieu of damages sustained by the United States because of such statement or representation, of not more than twice the amount of benefits or payments paid as a result of such a statement or representation. In addition, the Commissioner of Social Security may make a determination in the same proceeding to recommend that the Secretary exclude, as provided in section 1320a-7 of this title, such a person who is a medical provider or physician from participation in the programs under subchapter XVIII." Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108-203, §111(a), added par. (3). Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 108-203, §201(c)(1), struck out "charging fraud or false statements" after "Federal or State crime". Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108-203, §201(c)(2), substituted ",representations, or actions" for "and representations". Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108-203, §201(c)(3), substituted "violation occurred" for "statement or representation referred to in subsection (a) of this section was made".Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 108-203, §201(b), substituted "In the case of any other amounts recovered under this section," for "In the case of amounts recovered arising out of a determination relating to subchapter VIII or XVI of this chapter,". 1999- Pub. L. 106-169, §251(b)(6)(A), substituted "II, VIII" for "II" in section catchline.Subsec. (a)(1)(B), (C). Pub. L. 106-169, §251(b)(6)(B), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106-169, §251(b)(6)(C), inserted "or subchapter VIII," after "subchapter II". Subsec. (e)(1)(C)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 106-169, §251(b)(6)(D), added cl. (ii) and redesignated former cl. (ii) as (iii).Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 106-169, §251(b)(6)(E), substituted "subchapter VIII or XVI" for "subchapter XVI".Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 106-169, §251(b)(6)(F), substituted "subchapter VIII or XVI" for "subchapter XVI". 1994-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii), in closing provisions substituted "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary", inserted "recommend that the Secretary" before "exclude, as provided", and struck out before period at end "and to direct the appropriate State agency to exclude the person from participation in any State health care program permanently or for such period as the Secretary determines".Subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(1), (2), (c). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), substituted "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" wherever appearing.Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), substituted "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" wherever appearing. Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), which directed that this section be amended by substituting "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" wherever appearing, was also executed by substituting "Commissioner's" for "Secretary's" wherever appearing in subsec. (d), to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), (iii) (I), substituted "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" throughout this section and in subsec. (g) substituted "Commissioner's" for "Secretary's". Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), which directed amendment of this section by substituting "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" each place it appears, was executed in subsecs. (e) and (f) by making the substitution wherever appearing except where appearing before "of the Treasury" in subsec. (e)(1)(B) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(iii), substituted "Commissioner's" for "Secretary's" and "the Commissioner shall notify the Secretary of the final determination and the reasons therefor, and the Secretary shall then notify the entities described in section 1320a-7a(h) of this title of such final determination." for "the provisions of section 1320a-7a(h) of this title shall apply." Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), substituted "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary" wherever appearing.Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(iv), inserted "based on a recommendation under subsection (a)" after "section 1320a-7 of this title". Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 103-296, §206(e)(1), added subsec. (l). Pub. L. 103-296, §108(b)(10)(A)(i), (v), in subsec. (l) as added by Pub. L. 103-296, §206(e)(1), substituted "Social Security Administration" for "Department of Health and Human Services" and "Commissioner of Social Security" for "Secretary".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 108-203, title I, §111(b), Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 507, provided that: "The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to violations committed after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 2, 2004]." Pub. L. 108-203, title II, §201(d), Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 508, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1320a-8a of this title] shall apply with respect to violations committed after the date on which the Commissioner of Social Security implements the centralized computer file described in section 202 [set out as a note under section 902 of this title]." [The centralized computer file was implemented Nov. 27, 2006, see 72 F.R. 27424.]
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT Amendment by section 108(b)(10)(A) of Pub. L. 103-296 effective Mar. 31, 1995, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 103-296 set out as a note under section 401 of this title. Pub. L. 103-296, title II, §206(e)(2), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1515, provided that: "The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1994."
EFFECTIVE DATESection applicable to conduct occurring on or after Oct. 1, 1994, see section 206(b)(3) of Pub. L. 103-296 set out as an Effective Date of 1994 Amendment note under section 1320a-7 of this title.
STUDY ON POSSIBLE MEASURES TO IMPROVE FRAUD PREVENTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING Pub. L. 106-169, title II, §210, Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1842, required the Commissioner of Social Security to study possible measures to improve prevention of fraud and administrative processing and submit the results no later than 1 year after Dec. 14, 1999.
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.1 See References in Text note below.
- United States
- The term "United States" means (but only for purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph) the fifty States and the District of Columbia.
- person
- The term "person" means an individual, a trust or estate, a partnership, or a corporation.