Federal Employees Health Benefits Amendments Act of 1988
Public Law 100-654 · H.R. 5102 · 100th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 14, 1988 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY-7)
Cosponsors (4): Rep. Constance Morella, Rep. Mary Oakar,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Federal Employees Health Benefits Amendments Act of 1988 - Title I: Provisions Relating to Health Care Providers - Authorizes the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to bar from participation in the Federal health benefits program any provider of health care services or supplies that has been convicted, under Federal or State law, of a criminal offense relating to: (1) fraud, corruption, breach of fiduciary responsibility, or other financial misconduct in connection with the delivery of a health care service or supply; (2) neglect or abuse of patients in connection with the delivery of a health care service or supply; or (3) the unlawful manufacture, distribution, prescription, or dispensing of a controlled substance. Bars from program participation any provider that has been convicted in connection with the interference with or obstruction of an investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense described under this Act. Bars from program participation any provider: (1) whose license to provide health care services or supplies has been revoked, suspended, restricted, or not renewed by a State licensing authority for reasons relating to the provider's professional competence, professional performance, or financial integrity; or (2) that surrendered such a license while a formal disciplinary proceeding was pending before such an authority, if the proceeding concerned the provider's professional competence, professional performance, or financial integrity.
Authorizes OPM to impose a civil monetary penalty on providers who make false charges or claims in connection with health care services or supplies.
Prohibits OPM from: (1) initiating any debarment proceeding against a provider, based on such provider's having been convicted of a criminal offense, later than six years after the date on which the provider was convicted; or (2) from initiating any action relating to a civil penalty, assessment, or debarment in connection with any claim, later than six years after the date the claim is presented.
Allows a barred provider to apply for termination of the debarment after the expiration of the minimum period of debarment.
Sets forth administrative duties for OPM in carrying out debarment proceedings.
Title II: Provisions Relating to Temporary Continuation of Coverage for Certain Individuals - Amends Federal law to authorize Federal employees who are separated from service (for other than gross misconduct) and individuals who cease to meet unmarried dependent child requirements to continue Federal health benefits coverage. Authorizes coverage for former employees up to 18 months and for unmarried dependents up to 36 months at their own cost.
Requires the Office of Personnel Management to prescribe regulations for continued coverage for certain former spouses and legally separated individuals and members of employee organization plans.
Title III: Health Insurance Coverage for Temporary Employees - Directs OPM to prescribe regulations to provide for offering health benefits plans to temporary employees who have completed one year of continuous service.
Title IV: Provisions Relating to Contributions by Justices and Judges to the Thrift Savings Fund - Allows a justice or judge to contribute to the Thrift Savings Fund with no contributions from the Federal Government.
Designates the Post Office building at 525 Royal Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee, as the Lewis E. Moore, Sr., Post Office Building.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Nov 14, 1988Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 100-654.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 3, 1988PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 19, 1988Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- Oct 14, 1988FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Sep 19, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Sep 16, 1988FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 14, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Aug 10, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Aug 3, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Jul 28, 1988CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.