18 U.S.C. § 669 – Theft or embezzlement in connection with health care
This law makes it a crime to steal, embezzle, or intentionally misuse money or property from a health care benefit program.
Section 669 applies to theft involving any health care benefit program, including private insurance plans as well as federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The law covers both taking money directly and misusing funds that are supposed to be used for patient care or health services.
What the law prohibits.
A person violates this statute if they knowingly do any of the following:
- Steal or knowingly take money or property that belongs to a health care benefit program.
- Embezzle or convert health care funds for their own use or someone else’s benefit.
- Misapply money or assets that were meant to pay for health care services or operations.
- Help, cause, or conspire with others to commit any of these acts.
Penalties.
Theft or embezzlement under § 669 is a federal felony. Penalties can include:
- up to 10 years in federal prison,
- fines,
- restitution to the affected health care program, and
- other consequences such as exclusion from federal health programs.
A person can be convicted even if they used the funds for business expenses or other purposes unrelated to personal gain — the key issue is whether the money was taken or misused without legal authority.
If you have been accused of health care theft or embezzlement, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our criminal defense attorneys for help.
