Contents    Prev    Next    Last


SEC. 248. AUTHORIZED INVESTIGATIVE DEMAND PROCEDURES.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 Title[ Title II\Subtitle E                                                           Contents

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       


    (a) In General.--Chapter 223 of title 18, United States Code, is

amended by adding after section 3485 the following:


``Sec. 3486. Authorized investigative demand procedures


    ``(a) Authorization.--(1) In any investigation relating to any act

or activity involving a Federal health care offense, the Attorney

General or the Attorney General's designee may issue in writing and

cause to be served a subpoena--

            ``(A) requiring the production of any records (including any

        books, papers, documents, electronic media, or other objects or

        tangible things), which may be relevant to an authorized law

        enforcement inquiry, that a person or legal entity may possess

        or have care, custody, or control; or

            ``(B) requiring a custodian of records to give testimony

        concerning the production and authentication of such records.


    ``(2) A subpoena under this subsection shall describe the objects

required to be produced and prescribe a return date within a reasonable

period of time within which the objects can be assembled and made

available.


    ``(3) The production of records shall not be required under this

section at any place more than 500 miles distant from the place where

the subpoena for the production of such records is served.


    ``(4) Witnesses summoned under this section shall be paid the same

fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United

States.


    ``(b) Service.--A subpoena issued under this section may be served

by any person who is at least 18 years of age and is designated in the

subpoena to serve it. Service upon a natural person may be made by

personal delivery of the subpoena to him. Service may be made upon a

domestic or foreign corporation or upon a partnership or other

unincorporated association which is subject to suit under a common name,

by delivering the subpoena to an officer, to a managing or general

agent, or to any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to

receive service of process. The affidavit of the person serving the

subpoena entered on a true copy thereof by the person serving it shall

be proof of service.


    ``(c) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy by or refusal to obey a

subpoena issued to any person, the Attorney General may invoke the aid

of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the

investigation is carried on or of which the subpoenaed person is an

inhabitant, or in which he carries on business or may be found, to

compel compliance with the subpoena. The court may issue an order

requiring the subpoenaed person to appear before the Attorney General to

produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony concerning the

production and authentication of such records. Any failure to obey the

order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.

All process in any such case may be served in any judicial district in

which such person may be found.


    ``(d) Immunity From Civil Liability.--Notwithstanding any Federal,

State, or local law, any person, including officers, agents, and

employees, receiving a summons under this section, who complies in good

faith with the summons and thus produces the materials sought, shall not

be liable in any court of any State or the United States to any customer

or other person for such production or for nondisclosure of that

production to the customer.


    ``(e) Limitation on Use.--(1) Health information about an individual

that is disclosed under this section may not be used in, or disclosed to

any person for use in, any administrative, civil, or criminal action or

investigation directed against the individual who is the subject of the

information unless the action or investigation arises out of and is

directly related to receipt of health care or payment for health care or

action involving a fraudulent claim related to health; or if authorized

by an appropriate order of a court of competent jurisdiction, granted

after application showing good cause therefor.


    ``(2) In assessing good cause, the court shall weigh the public

interest and the need for disclosure against the injury to the patient,

to the physician-patient relationship, and to the treatment services.


    ``(3) Upon the granting of such order, the court, in determining the

extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of any record is

necessary, shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized

disclosure.''.


    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of

chapter 223 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting

after the item relating to section 3485 the following new item:


``3486. Authorized investigative demand procedures.''.


    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1510(b)(3)(B) of title 18, United

States Code, is amended by inserting ``or a Department of Justice

subpoena (issued under section 3486 of title 18),'' after ``subpoena''.


 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 Contents

Contents    Prev    Next    Last


Seaside Software Inc. DBA askSam Systems, P.O. Box 1428, Perry FL 32348
Telephone: 800-800-1997 / 850-584-6590   •   Email: info@askSam.com   •   Support: http://www.askSam.com/forums
© Copyright 1985-2011   •   Privacy Statement