# Criminal Law (GCR)

## Title 8. Fraud and Related Crimes

### Subtitle 5. Public Fraud

#### Section 8-508

(a) In this part the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "False representation" means the knowing and willful:

  (1) concealing, falsifying, or omitting of a material fact;

  (2) making of a materially false or fraudulent statement; or

  (3) use of a document that contains a statement of material fact that the user knows to be false or fraudulent.

(c)

  (1) "Health care service" means health or medical care procedures, goods, or services that:

    (i) provide testing, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease or dysfunction; or

    (ii) dispense drugs, medical devices, medical appliances, or medical goods for the treatment of human disease or dysfunction.

  (2) "Health care service" includes any procedure, goods, or service that is a required benefit of a State health plan.

(d) "Representation" includes an acknowledgment, certification, claim, ratification, report of demographic statistics, encounter data, enrollment claims, financial information, health care services available or rendered, and qualifications of a person rendering health care or ancillary services.

(e) "Serious injury" means an injury that:

  (1) creates a substantial risk of death;

  (2) causes serious permanent or serious protracted disfigurement;

  (3) causes serious permanent or serious protracted loss of the function of any body part, organ, or mental faculty;

  (4) causes serious permanent or serious protracted impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ; or

  (5) involves extreme physical pain.

(f)

  (1) "State health plan" includes:

    (i) the State Medical Assistance Plan established in accordance with Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act of 1939;

    (ii) a medical assistance plan established by the State; or

    (iii) a private health insurance carrier, health maintenance organization, managed care organization as defined in Sec. 15-101 of the Health - General Article, health care cooperative or alliance, or other person that provides or contracts to provide health care services that are wholly or partly reimbursed by or are a required benefit of a health plan established in accordance with Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act of 1939 or by the State.

  (2) "State health plan" includes a person that provides or contracts or subcontracts to provide health care services for an entity described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

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Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)