H.R. 8823 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act
Cosponsors: 1 (1 D, 0 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-15
Introduced: 2026-05-14
Latest action (2026-07-21): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
What H.R. 8823 does, in plain terms
Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act This bill explicitly authorizes the Department of Labor to suspend payments under the federal workers’ compensation program to certain providers convicted of fraud. (Current regulations establish various grounds for excluding a provider from payment under the program, including a conviction for fraudulent activity in connection with a federal or state medical benefit program.) Under the bill, Labor may suspend payments to a provider convicted of fraud related to the federal workers’ compensation program, a similar state program, or a federal health care benefit program (e.g., Medicare). Specifically, Labor may suspend (1) payments to such a provider for services, appliances, or supplies covered under the program; or (2) payments for certain initial expenses incurred by an employing agency with respect to such a provider. Labor must issue regulations to carry out these provisions.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Constitutionally sound
Graded 2026-10-08
SI-generated grade · five published checks · not individually reviewed by a person · methodology
Authorizing suspension of federal workers compensation payments to providers convicted of fraud is a narrow program-integrity measure within congressional spending and administration powers, triggered only after conviction with full trial protections.
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✓ Passes · Enumerated powers
Congress has authority under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 to provide for the general welfare and to fund compensation for federal workers, and under Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 to make laws necessary and proper to administer that program and prevent fraud. Regulating eligibility of providers paid with federal funds is squarely within that authority. -
✓ Passes · Bill of Rights
No First through Tenth Amendment right is infringed. Suspension applies only after a criminal conviction for fraud, preserving speech, arms, search protections under the Fourth Amendment, self-incrimination and jury protections under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, and reserving no unenumerated rights issue under the Ninth Amendment or Tenth Amendment. -
✓ Passes · Individual sovereignty
The bill does not restrict a person's body, speech, belief, labor, or lawful use of property. It restricts only receipt of federal funds by providers convicted of fraud related to the federal workers compensation program, a similar state program, or a federal health care program. The government has a compelling justification in protecting public funds and program integrity. -
✓ Passes · Decentralization
This concerns administration of an existing federal employee benefit program, not a general police power. Individuals, counties, and states cannot administer federal workers compensation payments for federal employees. The bill does not consolidate new power upward; it clarifies exclusion authority within the existing federal program, consistent with the Tenth Amendment. -
✓ Passes · Due process and takings
Procedural and substantive due process under the Fifth Amendment are satisfied because suspension is triggered by a conviction for fraud, which itself requires notice, proof beyond reasonable doubt, and fair trial. No presumption of innocence is bypassed. No Takings Clause violation occurs because there is no vested property right to continued federal payments while defrauding the program.
Sources: Congress.gov: HR 8823 summary
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