§245. OBSTRUCTION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF HEALTH CARE OFFENSES.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

TITLE II—PREVENTING HEALTH CARE FRAUD AND ABUSE; ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION

(a) In General.—Chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§1518. Obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses

‘‘(a) Whoever willfully prevents, obstructs, misleads, delays or attempts to prevent, obstruct, mislead, or delay the communication of information or records relating to a violation of a Federal health care offense to a criminal investigator shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

‘‘(b) As used in this section the term 'criminal investigator' means any individual duly authorized by a department, agency, or armed force of the United States to conduct or engage in investigations for prosecutions for violations of health care offenses.’’.

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

‘‘1518. Obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses.’’.