Bill > H975

This bill aims to reduce fraudulent billing practices in healthcare by making several changes to existing laws. Specifically, it amends sections of Chapter 175H and Chapter 175 of the General Laws. The core change is in Section 3 of the bill, which modifies Section 6 of Chapter 175. This new language clarifies that individuals who knowingly receive healthcare benefits or payments they are not entitled to, or who violate other related sections, will be liable to the healthcare corporation or insurer for three times the amount of the improper benefit or payment, plus reasonable legal fees and costs, including investigation expenses. Additionally, the bill makes minor technical adjustments by changing the number "seven" to "6" in two other sections of the General Laws, and in Section 4, it amends Section 7 of Chapter 175 to explicitly state that the recovery for improper payments is "3 times the full amount" instead of just "the full amount." These provisions are intended to deter and penalize healthcare fraud.