House concurs with Senate amendments on Medicaid False Claims Act changes; HB242 passes

The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 26 voted to concur with Senate amendments to first substitute House Bill 242, a set of changes described on the floor as aligning state language with the federal False Claims Act. The motion to reconsider prior action brought the measure back before the House, and after debate the body voted to concur and then voted for final passage.

Sponsor Representative Last, speaking in favor of concurrence, said the amendments added the words "a material fact" with respect to false-claim allegations and removed the term "recklessly" in a later provision so the bill would comply with the federal False Claims Act. Last told colleagues the Senate changes largely reflected language he had requested in committee and characterized the edits as clarifying legal language rather than creating new substantive liability.

Floor managers agreed the motion to reconsider was necessary because of procedural confusion after an earlier motion on concurrence had failed; once reconsideration was agreed the motion to concur was properly before the body. The House opened and closed the roll for final passage; the clerk announced the bill had received 67 affirmative votes and passed the House. The bill will be sent to the Senate for the President's signature.

No additional amendments were adopted on final passage, and sponsors characterized the changes as technical clarifications to conform state law with federal standards. The House concluded that action and returned to other business.