PennWell Dental Community
Health care fraud ... and 10 ways to help stop it
If you've seen the news lately, no doubt you've heard plenty about President Obama's plan for health care reform ... and health care fraud. President Obama and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, recently announced a new high-level task force aimed at detecting and preventing health care fraud.
There's no question that matters of fraud become more pronounced during hard economic times. It seems as if some people are ready to make a buck in any way they can ... even if it means swindling someone else. Identity theft is talked about often (I hear so many commercials for Lifelock and other ID protection services), but what about health care fraud? Below are 10 tips from StopHealthCareFraud.com to keep you from being a health care fraud victim.
Dental teams, consider passing these tips along to your patients...
1. Protect your insurance ID card like you would your credit cards. Don’t give out your policy number to door-to-door representatives, to telephone solicitors, or even over the internet.
2. If you lose your insurance ID card, immediately report it to your insurance company.
3. Promptly review your explanation of benefits (EOB) forms after you receive them in the mail. Report questionable activity to your insurance company if you suspect it is fraudulent.
4. Stay informed about your medical care. Ask your provider about the procedures and tests that will be performed as part of your treatment.
5. Keep detailed records of all received medical statements and bills.
6. Beware of “free” offers and mobile medical clinics. If any kind of a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Free services, such as tests or other treatments are often schemes designed to bill you and your insurance for large sums of money for treatments you didn’t actually receive.
7. Report instances where a provider continually waives co-payments or deductibles. This is a common indicator that a provider is obtaining inflated payments.
8. When selecting a provider, speak with family and friends to get recommendations. Many consumers have long standing relationships with their medical providers and know if they are a trusted source.
9. Always get a second opinion if you are referred to a provider who recommends treatment, tests or services that seem unreasonable.
10. Purchase health care services with the same care and evaluation you use for any large-dollar purchase (car, house, etc.).
There's no question that matters of fraud become more pronounced during hard economic times. It seems as if some people are ready to make a buck in any way they can ... even if it means swindling someone else. Identity theft is talked about often (I hear so many commercials for Lifelock and other ID protection services), but what about health care fraud? Below are 10 tips from StopHealthCareFraud.com to keep you from being a health care fraud victim.
Dental teams, consider passing these tips along to your patients...
1. Protect your insurance ID card like you would your credit cards. Don’t give out your policy number to door-to-door representatives, to telephone solicitors, or even over the internet.
2. If you lose your insurance ID card, immediately report it to your insurance company.
3. Promptly review your explanation of benefits (EOB) forms after you receive them in the mail. Report questionable activity to your insurance company if you suspect it is fraudulent.
4. Stay informed about your medical care. Ask your provider about the procedures and tests that will be performed as part of your treatment.
5. Keep detailed records of all received medical statements and bills.
6. Beware of “free” offers and mobile medical clinics. If any kind of a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Free services, such as tests or other treatments are often schemes designed to bill you and your insurance for large sums of money for treatments you didn’t actually receive.
7. Report instances where a provider continually waives co-payments or deductibles. This is a common indicator that a provider is obtaining inflated payments.
8. When selecting a provider, speak with family and friends to get recommendations. Many consumers have long standing relationships with their medical providers and know if they are a trusted source.
9. Always get a second opinion if you are referred to a provider who recommends treatment, tests or services that seem unreasonable.
10. Purchase health care services with the same care and evaluation you use for any large-dollar purchase (car, house, etc.).
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General dentist in Fort Worth, Texas. I surround myself with the most wonderful staff and the kindest patients in the nation. It is our mutual confidence and respect that grants me the freedom to stand nose-to-nose with anyone in the marketplace. I’m blessed. And I like to write.
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