S. 3593: Punishing Health Care Fraudsters Act
Sponsor
Ashley Moody
Republican · FL
Health care fraud penalties would more than double
Why it matters
A crime that now carries up to 10 years in prison would jump to 25 years under S. 3593, with some fines rising from $4,000 to $100,000 and others reaching $250,000. If you pay into Medicare or Medicaid — or worry about your health data being misused — this bill is Congress's attempt to answer fraud with much steeper punishment.
S. 3593 would turn health care fraud into a much more heavily punished federal crime, raising the top sentence from 10 years to 25 years.
If the fraud causes serious bodily injury, the maximum sentence would rise from 20 years to 30 years. The bill also increases several criminal fines for fraud, kickbacks, false statements, and other offenses involving federal health care programs.
One of the biggest jumps is for certain false statements tied to federal health care programs: the maximum fine would rise from $4,000 to $100,000, and the maximum jail term would increase from 6 months to 1 year. Other fines would climb from $20,000 to $100,000 or from $100,000 to $250,000, depending on the offense.
The bill does not create a new anti-fraud agency or new oversight system — it mainly gives prosecutors and judges a much bigger penalty range to work with.
S. 3593 also tells the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its guidelines for these crimes. The bill says that review should consider things like financial losses, planning and sophistication, harm to patients, and whether personal health information was exposed.
The higher penalties would apply only to conduct that happens after the bill becomes law.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 7, 2026
Read twice and Referred to the Judiciary. for review
S. 3593 Bill Summary
What S. 3593 actually does.
Health care fraud maximum sentence rises to 25 years
The bill raises the top federal prison term for health care fraud from 10 years to 25 years.
Cases involving serious bodily injury rise to 30 years
If the offense causes serious bodily injury, the maximum sentence would increase from 20 years to 30 years.
Federal health program fines climb as high as $250,000
For certain crimes involving federal health care programs, the bill raises some maximum fines from $100,000 to $250,000 and some prison terms from 10 years to 25 years.
False-statement penalties get much steeper
For certain false statements tied to federal health care programs, the maximum fine would rise from $4,000 to $100,000 and the maximum jail term from 6 months to 1 year.
Sentencing guidelines would be reviewed for tougher treatment
The bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its guidance for these crimes, including losses, patient harm, privacy violations, and threats to public health or safety.
New penalties would apply only going forward
The higher penalties would apply to acts, statements, and representations made on or after enactment.
Who benefits from S. 3593?
Federal prosecutors pursuing health care fraud cases
They would have a much larger range of prison time and fines to seek in Medicare, Medicaid, and related fraud cases.
Taxpayers who fund federal health programs
Supporters argue that tougher penalties could deter scams that drain public health dollars, though the bill itself does not estimate savings.
Patients whose records or care may be caught up in fraud schemes
The sentencing review specifically tells the commission to consider patient harm, privacy violations, and unauthorized disclosure of personal health information.
Who is affected by S. 3593?
People charged with health care fraud
They would face much higher maximum prison terms — 25 years instead of 10, or 30 years instead of 20 in cases involving serious bodily injury.
Defendants in federal health program kickback and false-statement cases
They could face far larger fines, including increases to $100,000 or $250,000 depending on the charge.
Federal judges and the Sentencing Commission
Judges would be sentencing within a tougher statutory framework, and the commission would be expected to review whether its guidelines should also move higher.
S3593 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Jan 7, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Ashley Moody
Republican, FL · 1 years in Congress
Committees: Armed Services, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
0 of 21 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
11 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
S. 3593 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Introduced
- Jan 7, 2026
Read twice and Referred to the Judiciary. for review
Jan 7, 2026
S. 3593 Common Questions
What would S. 3593 change for health care fraud sentences?
It would raise the maximum federal prison term for health care fraud from 10 years to 25 years. In cases involving serious bodily injury, the cap would rise from 20 years to 30 years.
Does S. 3593 also raise fines?
Yes. Depending on the offense, maximum fines tied to federal health care programs would rise from $20,000 to $100,000 or from $100,000 to $250,000.
Would kickback cases face tougher penalties under S. 3593?
Yes. For certain crimes involving federal health care programs, including kickback-related offenses, the bill raises some top penalties to 25 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
What happens to false statements in federal health care program cases?
For certain false statements, the maximum fine would jump from $4,000 to $100,000, and the maximum jail term would increase from 6 months to 1 year.
Does S. 3593 create a new health care fraud agency or task force?
No. The bill is mostly about increasing criminal penalties and asking the Sentencing Commission to review whether guidelines should also be tougher.
Would the bill change federal sentencing guidelines too?
Possibly. S. 3593 tells the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review its guidelines for these crimes, including losses, patient harm, and exposure of personal health information.
When would the tougher penalties start?
Only after enactment. The higher penalties would apply to conduct, statements, and representations made on or after the bill becomes law.
Based on S. 3593 bill text
S. 3593 Bill Text
“To increase the penalties for health care fraud, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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