PRINTER'S NO. 4318
No. 2814 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, ADOLPH, BASTIAN, BOYD, CLYMER, CRAHALLA,
CREIGHTON, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, GEIST, GOODMAN, KILLION,
SCAVELLO, SHANER, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR AND WRIGHT,
JUNE 21, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 21, 2006
AN ACT
1 Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 75 (Vehicles) of
2 the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3 insurance fraud, for penalties relating to antifraud plans,
4 for reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle
5 registration, for reports by police and for admissibility of
6 department records.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 4117 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
10 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
11 § 4117. Insurance fraud.
12 (a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if the
13 person does any of the following:
14 (1) Knowingly and with the intent to defraud a State or
15 local government agency files, presents or causes to be filed
16 with or presented to the government agency a document that
17 contains false, incomplete or misleading information
18 concerning any fact or thing material to the agency's
19 determination in approving or disapproving a motor vehicle
1 insurance rate filing, a motor vehicle insurance transaction
2 or other motor vehicle insurance action which is required or
3 filed in response to an agency's request.
4 (2) Knowingly and with the intent to defraud any insurer
5 or self-insured, presents or causes to be presented to any
6 insurer or self-insured any statement forming a part of, or
7 in support of, a claim that contains any false, incomplete or
8 misleading information concerning any fact or thing material
9 to the claim.
10 (3) Knowingly and with the intent to defraud any insurer
11 or self-insured, assists, abets, solicits or conspires with
12 another to prepare or make any statement that is intended to
13 be presented to any insurer or self-insured in connection
14 with, or in support of, a claim that contains any false,
15 incomplete or misleading information concerning any fact or
16 thing material to the claim, including information which
17 documents or supports an amount claimed in excess of the
18 actual loss sustained by the claimant.
19 (4) Engages in unlicensed agent, broker or unauthorized
20 insurer activity as defined by the act of May 17, 1921
21 (P.L.789, No.285), known as The Insurance Department Act of
22 one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one, knowingly and with
23 the intent to defraud an insurer, a self-insured or the
24 public.
25 (5) Knowingly benefits, directly or indirectly, from the
26 proceeds derived from a violation of this section due to the
27 assistance, conspiracy or urging of any person.
28 (6) Is the owner, administrator or employee of any
29 health care facility and knowingly allows the use of such
30 facility by any person in furtherance of a scheme or
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1 conspiracy to violate any of the provisions of this section.
2 (7) Borrows or uses another person's financial
3 responsibility or other insurance identification card or
4 permits his financial responsibility or other insurance
5 identification card to be used by another, knowingly and with
6 intent to present a fraudulent claim to an insurer.
7 (8) If, for pecuniary gain for himself or another, he
8 directly or indirectly solicits any person to engage, employ
9 or retain either himself or any other person to manage,
10 adjust or prosecute any claim or cause of action against any
11 person for damages for negligence or, for pecuniary gain for
12 himself or another, directly or indirectly solicits other
13 persons to bring causes of action to recover damages for
14 personal injuries or death, provided, however, that this
15 paragraph shall not apply to any conduct otherwise permitted
16 by law or by rule of the Supreme Court.
17 (9) Knowingly and willfully violates an emergency rule
18 or order of the Insurance Department pertaining to insurance
19 fraud or a provision of 31 Pa. Code (relating to insurance)
20 pertaining to insurance fraud.
21 (10) Organizes, plans or knowingly participates in an
22 intentional motor vehicle accident or a scheme to create
23 documentation of a motor vehicle accident that did not occur
24 for the purpose of making a tort claim or claim for personal
25 injury protection benefits.
26 (11) Creates, markets or presents a false or fraudulent
27 financial responsibility or other insurance identification
28 card with intent to deceive.
29 (12) Pays a bribe, in cash or in kind, to induce the
30 referral of patients from or to a service provider or health
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1 care facility.
2 (13) Solicits or receives a commission, bonus, referral
3 fee, kickback, rebate or bribe, in cash or in kind, or
4 engages in a split-fee arrangement of any sort in return for
5 acceptance or acknowledgment of treatment from a health care
6 provider or a health care facility.
7 (b) Additional offenses defined.--
8 (1) A lawyer may not compensate or give anything of
9 value to a nonlawyer to recommend or secure employment by a
10 client or as a reward for having made a recommendation
11 resulting in employment by a client; except that the lawyer
12 may pay:
13 (i) the reasonable cost of advertising or written
14 communication as permitted by the rules of professional
15 conduct; or
16 (ii) the usual charges of a not-for-profit lawyer
17 referral service or other legal service organization.
18 Upon a conviction of an offense provided for by this
19 paragraph, the prosecutor shall certify such conviction to
20 the disciplinary board of the Supreme Court for appropriate
21 action. Such action may include a suspension or disbarment.
22 (2) With respect to an insurance benefit or claim
23 covered by this section, a health care provider may not
24 compensate or give anything of value to a person to recommend
25 or secure the provider's service to or employment by a
26 patient or as a reward for having made a recommendation
27 resulting in the provider's service to or employment by a
28 patient; except that the provider may pay the reasonable cost
29 of advertising or written communication as permitted by rules
30 of professional conduct. Upon a conviction of an offense
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1 provided for by this paragraph, the prosecutor shall certify
2 such conviction to the appropriate licensing board in the
3 Department of State which shall suspend or revoke the health
4 care provider's license.
5 (3) A lawyer or health care provider may not compensate
6 or give anything of value to a person for providing names,
7 addresses, telephone numbers or other identifying information
8 of individuals seeking or receiving medical or rehabilitative
9 care for accident, sickness or disease, except to the extent
10 a referral and receipt of compensation is permitted under
11 applicable professional rules of conduct. A person may not
12 knowingly transmit such referral information to a lawyer or
13 health care professional for the purpose of receiving
14 compensation or anything of value. Attempts to circumvent
15 this paragraph through use of any other person, including,
16 but not limited to, employees, agents or servants, shall also
17 be prohibited.
18 (4) A person may not knowingly and with intent to
19 defraud any insurance company, self-insured or other person
20 file an application for insurance containing any false
21 information or conceal for the purpose of misleading
22 information concerning any fact material thereto.
23 (5) An insurer may not waive a deductible or copay by a
24 service provider.
25 (c) Electronic claims submission.--If a claim is made by
26 means of computer billing tapes or other electronic means, it
27 shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person knowingly made
28 the claim if the person has advised the insurer in writing that
29 claims will be submitted by use of computer billing tapes or
30 other electronic means.
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1 (d) Grading.--An offense under subsection (a)(1) through (8)
2 is a felony of the third degree. An offense under subsection (b)
3 is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
4 (e) Restitution.--The court may, in addition to any other
5 sentence authorized by law, sentence a person convicted of
6 violating this section to make restitution.
7 (e.1) License revocation.--In addition to any other penalty,
8 the Department of Transportation shall revoke for three years
9 the driver's license of any person convicted of violating this
10 section.
11 (f) Immunity.--An insurer, and any agent, servant or
12 employee thereof acting in the course and scope of his
13 employment, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability
14 arising from the supply or release of written or oral
15 information to any entity duly authorized to receive such
16 information by Federal or State law, or by Insurance Department
17 regulations.
18 (g) Civil action.--An insurer damaged as a result of a
19 violation of this section may sue therefor in any court of
20 competent jurisdiction to recover compensatory damages, which
21 may include reasonable investigation expenses, costs of suit and
22 attorney fees. An insurer may recover treble damages if the
23 court determines that the defendant has engaged in a pattern of
24 violating this section.
25 (h) Criminal action.--
26 (1) The district attorneys of the several counties shall
27 have authority to investigate and to institute criminal
28 proceedings for any violation of this section.
29 (2) In addition to the authority conferred upon the
30 Attorney General by the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950,
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1 No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, the
2 Attorney General shall have the authority to investigate and
3 to institute criminal proceedings for any violation of this
4 section or any series of such violations involving more than
5 one county of the Commonwealth or involving any county of the
6 Commonwealth and another state. No person charged with a
7 violation of this section by the Attorney General shall have
8 standing to challenge the authority of the Attorney General
9 to investigate or prosecute the case, and, if any such
10 challenge is made, the challenge shall be dismissed and no
11 relief shall be available in the courts of the Commonwealth
12 to the person making the challenge.
13 (i) Regulatory and investigative powers additional to those
14 now existing.--Nothing contained in this section shall be
15 construed to limit the regulatory or investigative authority of
16 any department or agency of the Commonwealth whose functions
17 might relate to persons, enterprises or matters falling within
18 the scope of this section.
19 (j) Violations, penalties, etc.--
20 (1) If a person is found by court of competent
21 jurisdiction, pursuant to a claim initiated by a prosecuting
22 authority, to have violated any provision of this section,
23 the person shall be subject to civil penalties of not more
24 than $5,000 for the first violation, $10,000 for the second
25 violation and $15,000 for each subsequent violation. The
26 penalty shall be paid to the prosecuting authority to be used
27 to defray the operating expenses of investigating and
28 prosecuting insurance fraud. The court may also award court
29 costs and reasonable attorney fees to the prosecuting
30 authority.
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1 (2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
2 prohibit a prosecuting authority and the person accused of
3 violating this section from entering into a written agreement
4 in which that person does not admit or deny the charges but
5 consents to payment of the civil penalty. A consent agreement
6 may not be used in a subsequent civil or criminal proceeding,
7 but notification thereof shall be made to the licensing
8 authority if the person is licensed by a licensing authority
9 of the Commonwealth so that the licensing authority may take
10 appropriate administrative action. Penalties paid under this
11 section shall be deposited into the Insurance Fraud
12 Prevention Trust Fund created under the act of December 28,
13 1994 (P.L.1414, No.166), known as the Insurance Fraud
14 Prevention Act.
15 (3) The imposition of any fine or other remedy under
16 this section shall not preclude prosecution for a violation
17 of the criminal laws of this Commonwealth.
18 (k) Insurance forms and verification of services.--
19 (1) All applications for insurance and all claim forms
20 shall contain or have attached thereto the following notice:
21 Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud
22 any insurance company or other person files an
23 application for insurance or statement of claim
24 containing any materially false information or
25 conceals for the purpose of misleading, information
26 concerning any fact material thereto commits a
27 fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime and
28 subjects such person to criminal and civil penalties.
29 (l) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
30 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
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1 subsection:
2 "Insurance policy." A document setting forth the terms and
3 conditions of a contract of insurance or agreement for the
4 coverage of health or hospital services.
5 "Insurer." A company, association or exchange defined by
6 section 101 of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known
7 as The Insurance Company Law of 1921; an unincorporated
8 association of underwriting members; a hospital plan
9 corporation; a professional health services plan corporation; a
10 health maintenance organization; a fraternal benefit society;
11 and a self-insured health care entity under the act of October
12 15, 1975 (P.L.390, No.111), known as the Health Care Services
13 Malpractice Act.
14 "Person." An individual, corporation, partnership,
15 association, joint-stock company, trust or unincorporated
16 organization. The term includes any individual, corporation,
17 association, partnership, reciprocal exchange, interinsurer,
18 Lloyd's insurer, fraternal benefit society, beneficial
19 association and any other legal entity engaged or proposing to
20 become engaged, either directly or indirectly, in the business
21 of insurance, including agents, brokers, adjusters and health
22 care plans as defined in 40 Pa.C.S. Chs. 61 (relating to
23 hospital plan corporations), 63 (relating to professional health
24 services plan corporations), 65 (relating to fraternal benefit
25 societies) and 67 (relating to beneficial societies) and the act
26 of December 29, 1972 (P.L.1701, No.364), known as the Health
27 Maintenance Organization Act. For purposes of this section,
28 health care plans, fraternal benefit societies and beneficial
29 societies shall be deemed to be engaged in the business of
30 insurance.
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1 "Self-insured." Any person who is self-insured for any risk
2 by reason of any filing, qualification process, approval or
3 exception granted, certified or ordered by any department or
4 agency of the Commonwealth.
5 "Statement." Any oral or written presentation or other
6 evidence of loss, injury or expense, including, but not limited
7 to, any notice, statement, proof of loss, bill of lading,
8 receipt for payment, invoice, account, estimate of property
9 damages, bill for services, diagnosis, prescription, hospital or
10 doctor records, X-ray, test result or computer-generated
11 documents.
12 Section 2. Sections 1815, 1960, 3751 and 6328 of Title 75
13 are amended to read:
14 § 1815. Penalties.
15 Insurers that fail to file timely antifraud plans as required
16 by sections 1811 (relating to filing of plans) and 1813
17 (relating to review by commissioner) [are subject to the penalty
18 provisions of section 320 of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682,
19 No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921] shall be
20 assessed a civil penalty of $500 for each day of noncompliance,
21 which moneys shall be deposited into the Insurance Fraud
22 Prevention Trust Fund. Insurers that do not make a good faith
23 attempt to file an antifraud plan which complies with section
24 1812 (relating to content of plans) shall also be subject to the
25 penalty provisions of section 320 of the act of May 17, 1921
26 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921,
27 provided that no penalty may be imposed for the first filing
28 made by an insurer under this subchapter. Insurers that fail to
29 follow the antifraud plan shall be subject to a civil penalty
30 for each violation, not to exceed $10,000, at the discretion of
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1 the commissioner after consideration of all relevant factors,
2 including the willfulness of any violation.
3 § 1960. Reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle
4 registration.
5 [The] (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection
6 (b), the department shall charge a fee of $25 or, if section
7 1379 (relating to suspension of registration upon sixth unpaid
8 parking violation in cities of the first class) or 1786(d)
9 (relating to required financial responsibility) applies, a fee
10 of $50 to restore a person's operating privilege or the
11 registration of a vehicle following a suspension or revocation.
12 (b) Insurance fraud.--The department shall charge a fee of
13 $150 to restore a person's operating privilege following a
14 suspension or revocation for insurance fraud.
15 § 3751. Reports by police.
16 (a) General rule.--Every police department that investigates
17 a vehicle accident for which a report must be made as required
18 in this subchapter and prepares a written report as a result of
19 an investigation either at the time and at the scene of the
20 accident or thereafter by interviewing the participants or
21 witnesses shall, within 15 days of the accident, forward an
22 initial written report of the accident to the department. If the
23 initial report is not complete, a supplemental report shall be
24 submitted at a later date.
25 (b) Furnishing copies of report.--
26 (1) [Police] Except as provided in subsection (c),
27 police departments shall, upon request, furnish a certified
28 copy of the full report of the police investigation of any
29 vehicle accident to any person involved in the accident, his
30 attorney or insurer, and to the Federal Government, branches
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1 of the military service, Commonwealth agencies, and to
2 officials of political subdivisions and to agencies of other
3 states and nations and their political subdivisions.
4 (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the cost of
5 furnishing a copy of a report under this subsection shall not
6 exceed $15.
7 (3) In a city of the first class, the cost of furnishing
8 a copy of a report under this subsection shall not exceed
9 $25.
10 (4) The copy of the report shall not be admissible as
11 evidence in any action for damages or criminal proceedings
12 arising out of a motor vehicle accident.
13 (5) Police departments may refuse to furnish the
14 complete copy of investigation of the vehicle accident
15 whenever there are criminal charges pending against any
16 persons involved in the vehicle accident unless the
17 Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure require the
18 production of the documents.
19 (c) Confidentiality.--
20 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the following
21 information in a written police report or traffic citation
22 pertaining to a motor vehicle accident shall be confidential
23 for a period of 60 days from the date on which the written
24 report or citation was filed:
25 (i) the identity of a party who was involved in the
26 accident;
27 (ii) the home address and telephone number of a
28 party;
29 (iii) the employment address and telephone number of
30 a party; and
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1 (iv) other personal information pertaining to a
2 party.
3 (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any of the
4 following:
5 (i) a party to the accident;
6 (ii) a legal representative of a party;
7 (iii) a licensed insurer of a party;
8 (iv) an insurer with whom a party has filed a claim
9 or otherwise applied for reimbursement in connection with
10 the accident;
11 (v) a person under contract with an insurer to
12 provide underwriting or claims information;
13 (vi) prosecutorial authorities;
14 (vii) radio and television stations licensed by the
15 Federal Communications Commission;
16 (viii) newspapers qualified to publish legal
17 notices;
18 (ix) free newspapers of general circulation; and
19 (x) victim services programs.
20 § 6328. Admissibility of department records.
21 [The] (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection
22 (b), the department may send to any authorized user by
23 electronic transmission any certification of record or abstract
24 of records maintained by the department. Permissible uses shall
25 include, but not be limited to, certifications of driving
26 records and motor vehicle records. The department may also
27 certify electronically any documents certified to it
28 electronically. Authorized users include State and local police,
29 district attorneys, employees of the department and the Office
30 of Attorney General and other persons or entities as determined
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1 by the department and listed by notice in the Pennsylvania
2 Bulletin. In any proceeding before the courts or administrative
3 bodies of this Commonwealth, documents certified by the
4 department under this section and offered into evidence by an
5 authorized user shall be admissible into evidence.
6 (b) Confidentiality.--
7 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the following
8 information in a written police report or traffic citation
9 pertaining to a motor vehicle accident shall be confidential
10 for a period of 60 days from the date on which the written
11 report or citation was filed:
12 (i) the identity of a party who was involved in the
13 accident;
14 (ii) the home address and telephone number of a
15 party;
16 (iii) the employment address and telephone number of
17 a party; and
18 (iv) other personal information pertaining to a
19 party.
20 (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any of the
21 following:
22 (i) a party to the accident;
23 (ii) a legal representative of a party;
24 (iii) a licensed insurer of a party;
25 (iv) an insurer with whom a party has filed a claim
26 or otherwise applied for reimbursement in connection with
27 the accident;
28 (v) a person under contract with an insurer to
29 provide underwriting or claims information;
30 (vi) prosecutorial authorities;
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1 (vii) radio and television stations licensed by the
2 Federal Communications Commission;
3 (viii) newspapers qualified to publish legal
4 notices;
5 (ix) free newspapers of general circulation; and
6 (x) victim services programs.
7 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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