DME Scammer Prevention Act of 2026

Aaron Bean

Republican · FL · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 19.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

This bill aims to crack down on fraud and scams involving durable medical equipment (DME)—items like wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and diabetic supplies that Medicare and insurance companies pay for. It would likely strengthen oversight and penalties for companies and individuals who submit false claims or overcharge for this equipment, protecting both taxpayers and patients who rely on these devices. The legislation targets a significant problem where fraudsters exploit the medical equipment system to steal millions in government and insurance funds.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8871 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8871 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to promote Medicare program integrity with respect to certain medical equipment and supplies. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2026 Mr. Bean of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to promote Medicare program integrity with respect to certain medical equipment and supplies. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``DME Scammer Prevention Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PROMOTING MEDICARE PROGRAM INTEGRITY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. (a) Electronic Submission of Claims by All Providers and Suppliers.--Section 1862(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(h)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), by striking ``the entity'' and inserting ``except in the case of claims for specified items (as defined in paragraph (3)), the entity''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii), the term `specified items' means medical equipment and supplies (as defined in section 1834(j)(5)) furnished on or after January 1, 2027, that are included on the Master List described in section 1834(a)(23).''. (b) Submission of Claims Within 90 Days.--Section 1842(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(3)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (B), in the flush matter following clause (ii), by inserting ``(or, in the case of claims for applicable items, the period ending 90 days after such date of service)'' after ``date of service''; and (2) in the flush matter following subparagraph (L)-- (A) in the sixth sentence-- (i) by inserting ``or end of the 90-day period specified in such subparagraph (as applicable)'' after ``close of the following calendar year''; and (ii) by inserting ``or end of such period (as applicable)'' after ``close of such year''; (B) in the ninth sentence, by inserting ``or 90-day period (as applicable)'' after ``1 calendar year period''; and (C) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term `applicable items' means specified items (as defined in section 1862(h)(3)), other than any such item that is included on the Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List described in section 410.38(c)(8) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) or on the Required Prior Authorization List described in section 414.234(c)(1) of title 42 of such Code (or a successor regulation) or for which payment is made on a monthly rental basis.''. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2030, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the technology used by medicare administrative contractors to screen claims for specified items to identify errors or indicators of potential waste, fraud, or abuse. Such report shall include, with respect to the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2027-- (A) an examination of-- (i) the total number of such claims submitted during such period for which payment was initially denied on the basis of such screening technology; and (ii) the total number of claims so denied for…

which payment was ultimately made; and (B) an examination of the extent to which the use of such screening technology (taking into account the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)) assists in the identification of-- (i) suspicious claims or aberrant billing practices that may be indicative of improper payments; and (ii) the basis of claims denials. (2) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Medicare administrative contractor.--The term ``medicare administrative contractor'' has the meaning given such term in section 1874A(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kk-1(a)(3)). (B) Specified items.--The term ``specified items'' has the meaning given such term in section 1862(h)(3) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a). <all>

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