Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 3.djvu/269

 PUBLIC LAW 104-191—AUG. 21, 1996 110 STAT. 1999 (b) PROGRAM TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON FRAUD AND ABUSE. — (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. —Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall encourage individuals to report to the Secretary information on individuals and emtities who are engaging in or who have engaged in acts or omissions which constitute grounds for the imposition of a sanction under section 1128, 1128A, or 1128B of the Social Security Act, or who have otherwise engaged in fraud and abuse against the Medicare program under title XVIII of such act for which there is a sanction provided under law. The program shall discourage provision of, and not consider, information which is frivolous or otherwise not relevant or material to the imposition of such a sanction. (2) PAYMENT OF PORTION OF AMOUNTS COLLECTED. —I f an individual reports information to the Secretary under the program established under paragraph (1) which serves as the basis for the collection by the Secretary or the Attorney General of any amount of at least $100 (other than any amount paid as a penalty under section 1128B of the Social Security Act), the Secretary may pay a portion of the amount collected to the individual (under procedures similar to those applicable under section 7623 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to payments to individuals providing information on violations of such Code). (c) PROGRAM TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON PROGRAM EFFICIENCY.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.— Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall encourage individuals to submit to the Secretary suggestions on methods to improve the efficiency of the Medicare program. (2) PAYMENT OF PORTION OF PROGRAM SAVINGS.— If an individual submits a suggestion to the Secretary under the program established under paragraph (1) which is adopted by the Secretary and which results in savings to the program, the Secretary may make a payment to the individual of such amount as the Secretary considers appropriate. SEC. 204. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN HEALTH ANTIFRAUD AND ABUSE SANCTIONS TO FRAUD AND ABUSE AGAINST FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1128B (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b) is amended as follows: (1) In the heading, by striking "MEDICARE OR STATE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS" and inserting "FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PRO- GRAMS". (2) In subsection (a)(1), by striking "a program under title XVIII or a State health care program (as defined in section 1128(h))" and inserting "a Federal health care program (as defined in subsection (f))". (3) In subsection (a)(5), by striking "a program under title XVIII or a State health care program" and inserting "a Federal health care program". (4) In the second sentence of subsection (a)—

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