Anti-Fraud Fund Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
- Committees
- Ways and Means Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 21, 2026
Bottom line
The Anti-Fraud Fund Act of 2026 provides a temporary, substantial increase in funding to federal efforts to combat healthcare fraud and abuse.
What it actually does
This bill proposes to significantly increase funding for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (HCFAC) by an additional $7 billion annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2030. This account is responsible for combating fraud and abuse in federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The bill includes specific language to ensure that this temporary increase does not permanently alter the baseline for future funding calculations.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that investing more in fraud detection and prevention is a highly effective way to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the integrity of federal healthcare programs. They contend that the return on investment for fraud control is substantial, with every dollar spent on enforcement often recovering many more dollars that would otherwise be lost to fraudulent schemes. This bill is seen as a necessary step to safeguard Medicare and Medicaid funds for legitimate patient care.
Opponents contend
Opponents might raise concerns about the significant unoffset spending increase of $28 billion over four years, questioning its fiscal prudence without clear offsets. They may also argue that simply increasing funding without addressing underlying systemic issues or improving the efficiency of existing fraud control mechanisms may not yield the desired results. Some might also express concern about potential overreach or increased administrative burdens on legitimate healthcare providers due to intensified enforcement.
The bill is exceptionally short and clear, allowing for a quick and comprehensive understanding of its provisions.
Section 2
Increased Funding for Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account
This section amends the Social Security Act to provide an additional $7 billion each year to the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (HCFAC) for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. The HCFAC is a joint Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services fund used to combat fraud and abuse in federal health programs. The bill also includes technical language to ensure that this temporary increase does not permanently inflate the baseline for calculating HCFAC funding in subsequent years beyond the specified period.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this increased funding is a critical investment that will yield significant returns by recovering billions of dollars lost to fraud, waste, and abuse. They believe it will strengthen the integrity of federal healthcare programs and ensure that funds are used for their intended purpose: providing care to beneficiaries.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that while combating fraud is important, a $28 billion unoffset increase in spending over four years is fiscally irresponsible. They may also question whether the existing HCFAC structure is efficient enough to effectively utilize such a large influx of funds, or if it might lead to diminishing returns on investment.
Tradeoffs
The primary tradeoff is between the upfront cost of increased enforcement and the potential for greater long-term savings from reduced fraud. There's also a tension between aggressive fraud detection and the administrative burden placed on legitimate healthcare providers.
The bill includes flush language stating that for fiscal years 2028 through 2031, the limit for the preceding fiscal year shall be deemed to have been reduced by $7,000,000,000 when determining the current year's limit. This technical adjustment ensures the $7 billion annual increase is temporary and does not permanently inflate the baseline for future funding calculations.
Section 2(2)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for managing temporary appropriations and ensuring they do not create a permanent, higher baseline for future budget projections. It's a technical mechanism to control the fiscal impact beyond the specified years.
Case for: Supporters would argue this language is essential for fiscal responsibility, ensuring that the substantial increase in funding is for a defined period and does not create an expectation of permanently higher HCFAC appropriations without further legislative action.
Case against: Critics might argue that such technical language can obscure the true nature of the funding, making it less transparent to a casual reader that the increase is not a permanent enhancement to the account's base funding.
Estimated impact: This language ensures that the total additional funding is capped at $28 billion over four years, preventing a compounding effect on the baseline for subsequent fiscal years.