New Improper Payments Bill Introduced
Section: Washington Update




Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and John Kennedy (R-LA) have introduced the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act (S. 2374), bipartisan legislation that would help save millions of federal dollars by curbing erroneous payments to deceased individuals. Of note within the bill language:
 
  1. The director of the Office of Management and Budget shall conduct a review of potential alternative sources of death data maintained by the non-federal sources, including sources maintained by state agencies or associations of state agencies, for use by federal agencies and programs.
  2. Not later than one year after the date of enactment, the director of the Office of Management and Budget shall develop a plan to assist states and local agencies, and Indian tribes and tribal organizations, in providing electronically to the federal government records relating to the death of individuals, which may include recommendations to Congress for any statutory changes or financial assistance to states and local agencies and Indian tribes and tribal organizations that are necessary to ensure states and local agencies and Indian tribes and tribal organizations can provide such records electronically. The plan may include recommendations for the authorization of appropriations or other funding to carry out the plan. 
Other cosponsors of S. 2374 include Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Gary Peters (D-MI). Companion legislation (H.R. 4929) has also been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT).
 
Full text of the bill language can be found here