Obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Whoever prevents, obstructs, misleads, delays or 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 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.
History: (Added Pub. L. 104–191, title II, §245(a), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2017 (PDF, 25 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to willfully prevent, block, mislead, or delay the sharing of information or records about a federal health care crime with a criminal investigator. Attempts are also covered.