FEHB Protection Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7868 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7868

 To require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to take 
 certain actions with respect to the health insurance program carried 
  out under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 5, 2024

  Mr. Waltz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
               Committee on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to take 
 certain actions with respect to the health insurance program carried 
  out under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``FEHB Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. FEHB IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Personnel Management.
            (2) Employing office.--The term ``employing office'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 890.101(a) of title 5, 
        Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
            (3) Health benefits plan; member of family.--The terms 
        ``health benefits plan'' and ``member of family'' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 8901 of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            (4) Open season.--The term ``open season'' means an open 
        season described in section 890.301(f) of title 5, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
            (5) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the health 
        insurance programs carried out under chapter 89 of title 5, 
        United States Code, including the program carried out under 
        section 8903c of that title.
            (6) Qualifying life event.--The term ``qualifying life 
        event'' has the meaning given the term in section 892.101 of 
        title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
        regulation.
    (b) Verification Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue regulations 
and implement a process to require each employing office to verify--
            (1) the veracity of any qualifying life event through which 
        an enrollee in the Program seeks to add a member of family with 
        respect to the enrollee to a health benefits plan under the 
        Program; and
            (2) that, when an enrollee in the Program seeks to add a 
        member of family with respect to the enrollee to the health 
        benefits plan of the enrollee under the Program, including 
        during any open season, the individual so added is a qualifying 
        member of family with respect to the enrollee.
    (c) Fraud Risk Assessment.--In any fraud risk assessment conducted 
with respect to the Program on or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall include an assessment of individuals who 
are enrolled in, or covered under, a health benefits plan under the 
Program even though those individuals are not eligible to be so 
enrolled or covered.
    (d) Family Member Eligibility Verification Audit.--
            (1) In general.--During the 3-year period beginning 1 year 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director, in 
        coordination with the head of each employing office, shall 
        conduct a comprehensive audit regarding members of family who 
        are covered under an enrollment in a health benefits plan under 
        the Program.
            (2) Contents.--In conducting an audit required under 
        paragraph (1), the Director, in coordination with the head of 
        each employing office, shall review marriage certificates, 
        birth certificates, and other appropriate documents that are 
        necessary to determine eligibility to enroll in a health 
        benefits plan under the Program.
    (e) Disenrollment or Removal.--Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a process 
by which any individual enrolled in, or covered under, a health 
benefits plan under the Program who is not eligible to be so enrolled 
or covered shall be disenrolled or removed from enrollment in a health 
benefits plan under the Program.
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