[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR1003.103]

[Page 1154-1156]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                     CHAPTER V--OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
                          GENERAL--HEALTH CARE,
                        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 1003--CIVIL MONEY PENALTIES, ASSESSMENTS AND EXCLUSIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1003.103  Amount of penalty.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (k) of this 
section, the OIG may impose a penalty of not more than--
    (1) $2,000 for each wrongful act occurring before January 1, 1997 
that is subject to a determination under Sec. 1003.102; and
    (2) $10,000 for each wrongful act occurring on or after January 1, 
1997 that is subject to a determination under Sec. 1003.102.
    (b) The OIG may impose a penalty of not more than $15,000 for each 
person with respect to whom a determination was made that false or 
misleading information was given under Sec. 1003.102(b)(4), or for each 
item and service that is subject to a determination under 
Sec. 1003.102(a)(5) or Sec. 1003.102(b)(9) of this part. The OIG may 
impose a penalty of not more than $100,000 for each arrangement or 
scheme that is subject to a determination under Sec. 1003.102(b)(10) of 
this part.
    (c) The OIG may impose a penalty of not more than $11,000 \1\ for 
each payment for which there was a failure to report required 
information in accordance with Sec. 1003.102(b)(5), or for each improper 
disclosure, use or access to information that is subject to a 
determination under Sec. 1003.102(b)(6).
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    \1\ As adjusted in accordance with the Federal Civil Monetary 
Penalty Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-140), as amended 
by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134).
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    (d)(1) The OIG may impose a penalty of not more than $5,000 for each 
violation resulting from the misuse of Departmental, CMS, Medicare or 
Medicaid program words, letters, symbols or emblems as described in 
Sec. 1003.102(b)(7) relating to printed media, and a penalty of not more 
than $25,000 in the case of such misuse related to a broadcast or 
telecast, that is related to a determination under Sec. 1003.102(b)(7).
    (2) For purposes of this paragraph, a violation is defined as--
    (i) In the case of a direct mailing solicitation or advertisement, 
each separate piece of mail which contains one or more words, letters, 
symbols or emblems related to a determination under Sec. 1003.102(b)(7);
    (ii) In the case of a printed solicitation or advertisement, each 
reproduction, reprinting or distribution of such item related to a 
determination under Sec. 1003.102(b)(7); and
    (iii) In the case of a broadcast or telecast, each airing of a 
single commercial or solicitation related to a determination under 
Sec. 1003.102(b)(7).
    (e) For violations of section 1867 of the Act or Sec. 489.24 of this 
title, the OIG may impose--
    (1) Against each participating hospital with an emergency 
department, a penalty of not more than $50,000 for each negligent 
violation occurring on or after May 1, 1991, except that if the 
participating hospital has fewer than 100 State-licensed, Medicare-
certified beds on the date the penalty is imposed, the penalty will not 
exceed $25,000; and
    (2) Against each responsible physician, a penalty of not more than 
$50,000 for each negligent violation occurring on or after May 1, 1991.

[[Page 1155]]

    (f)(1) The OIG may, in addition to or in lieu of other remedies 
available under law, impose a penalty of up to $25,000 for each 
determination by CMS that a contracting organization has--
    (i) Failed substantially to provide an enrollee with required 
medically necessary items and services and the failure adversely affects 
(or has the likelihood of adversely affecting) the enrollee;
    (ii) Imposed premiums on enrollees in excess of amounts permitted 
under section 1876 or title XIX of the Act;
    (iii) Acted to expel or to refuse to re-enroll a Medicare 
beneficiary in violation of the provisions of section 1876 of the Act 
and for reasons other than the beneficiary's health status or 
requirements for health care services;
    (iv) Misrepresented or falsified information furnished to an 
individual or any other entity under section 1876 or section 1903(m) of 
the Act;
    (v) Failed to comply with the requirements of section 1876(g)(6)(A) 
of the Act, regarding prompt payment of claims; or
    (vi) Failed to comply with the requirements of Secs. 417.479 (d) 
through (i) of this title for Medicare, and Secs. 417.479 (d) through 
(g) and (i) of this title for Medicaid, regarding certain prohibited 
incentive payments to physicians.
    (2) The OIG may, in addition to or in lieu of other remedies 
available under law, impose a penalty of up to $25,000 for each 
determination by CMS that a contracting organization with a contract 
under section 1876 of the Act--
    (i) Employs or contracts with individuals or entities excluded, 
under section 1128 or section 1128A of the Act, from participation in 
Medicare for the provision of health care, utilization review, medical 
social work, or administrative services; or
    (ii) Employs or contracts with any entity for the provision of 
services (directly or indirectly) through an excluded individual or 
entity.
    (3) The OIG may, in addition to or in lieu of other remedies 
available under law, impose a penalty of up to $100,000 for each 
determination that a contracting organization has--
    (i) Misrepresented or falsified information to the Secretary under 
section 1876 of the Act or to the State under section 1903(m) of the 
Act; or
    (ii) Acted to expel or to refuse to re-enroll a Medicaid recipient 
because of the individual's health status or requirements for health 
care services, or engaged in any practice that would reasonably be 
expected to have the effect of denying or discouraging enrollment 
(except as permitted by section 1876 or section 1903(m) of the Act) with 
the contracting organization by Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid 
recipients whose medical condition or history indicates a need for 
substantial future medical services.
    (4) If enrolles are charged more than the allowable premium, the OIG 
will impose an additional penalty equal to double the amount of excess 
premium charged by the contracting organization. The excess premium 
amount will be deducted from the penalty and returned to the enrollee.
    (5) The OIG will impose an additional $15,000 penalty for each 
individual not enrolled when CMS determines that a contracting 
organization has committed a violation described in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) 
of this section.
    (6) For purposes of paragraph (f) of this section, a violation is 
each incident where a person has committed an act listed in 
Sec. 417.500(a) or Sec. 434.67(a) of this title, or failed to comply 
with a requirement set forth in Sec. 434.80(c) of this title.
    (g) The OIG may impose a penalty of not more than $25,000 against a 
health plan for failing to report information on an adverse action 
required to be reported to the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data 
Bank in accordance with section 1128E of the Act and 
Sec. 1003.102(b)(5)(ii).
    (h) For each violation of Sec. 1003.102(b)(11), the OIG may impose--
    (1) A penalty of not more than $50,000, and
    (2) An assessment of up to three times the total amount of 
remuneration offered, paid, solicited or received, as specified in 
Sec. 1003.104(b).
    (i) For violations of Sec. 1003.102(b)(14) of this part, the OIG may 
impose a penalty of not more than the greater of--
    (1) $5,000, or
    (2) Three times the amount of Medicare payments for home health 
services

[[Page 1156]]

that are made with regard to the false certification of eligibility by a 
physician in accordance with sections 1814(a)(2)(C) or 1835(a)(2)(A) of 
the Act.
    (j) The OIG may impose a penalty of not more than $10,000 per day 
for each day that the prohibited relationship described in 
Sec. 1001.102(b)(12) of this part occurs.
    (k) For violations of section 1862(a)(14) of the Act and 
Sec. 1003.102(b)(15), the OIG may impose a penalty of not more than 
$2,000 for each bill or request for payment for items and services 
furnished to a hospital patient.

[57 FR 3346, Jan. 29, 1992, as amended at 59 FR 32125, June 22, 1994; 59 
FR 48566, Sept. 22, 1994; 60 FR 16584, Mar. 31, 1995; 60 FR 58241, Nov. 
27, 1995; 61 FR 13449, Mar. 27, 1996; 61 FR 52301, Oct. 7, 1996; 64 FR 
39429, July 22, 1999; 65 FR 18550, Apr. 7, 2000; 65 FR 24416, Apr. 26, 
2000; 65 FR 35584, June 5, 2000]