Final answer:
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 amended the definition of fraud by removing the 'intent' requirement, thus no longer necessitating the demonstration of knowing or willful deception for an act to be considered fraudulent.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a part of Health Care Reform, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 amended the definition of fraud to remove the intent requirement. This change in the legislation meant that to prove fraud, it was no longer necessary to show that someone knowingly or willfully lied; instead, the mere misrepresentation of facts that leads to unauthorized benefits can now be considered fraud. This was part of a broader effort to strengthen the fight against healthcare fraud and abuse.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare)
The ACA represented a major reform of the U.S. healthcare system, affecting many stakeholders including insurance companies, the medical profession, and patients. The law is funded through additional taxes such as increasing the Medicare tax and imposing an annual fee on health insurance providers. The healthcare reform aimed at extending health insurance coverage to more Americans and controlling healthcare costs.