Friday, November 8

What Is Medicare Fraud, And How Is It Committed?

What Is Medicare Fraud?

Medicare fraud refers to the illegal practices done by Healthcare facilities knowingly and purposely to get unfairly high funds. It affects the people enrolled in Medicare. It can be committed by Healthcare facilities, medical professionals, or the patient itself. The most common case is when the medical facility receives payment when they should not or receive a higher price. It can happen in any part of the Medicare program, from the original Medicare to the add ons. Committing such fraud is illegal and should be reported. 

Common Examples Of Medicare Fraud Committed By Healthcare Facilities Include:

  • Billing For Services That Were Not Given
  • Billing For Services Beyond Those That Were Performed
  • Billing For Canceled Or No Show Appointments
  • Billing For Supplies That Were Not Provided
  • Performing Unnecessary Tests For The Patients
  • Ordering Supplies For The Patient Which Were Not Necessary
  • Charging Separately For Services That Are Usually Set Together. 

Common Examples Of Medicare Fraud Committed By Patients Include:

  • Using another patient’s medicare card to avail medical benefits
  • Receiving compensation for undergoing unnecessary medical procedures 

It Is Investigated By Numerous Agencies, Some Of Which Are As Follows:

  • Department of Justice’s Healthcare Fraud Strike Force,
  • Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG),
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
  • Regional Prescription Opioid Taskforces,
  • State Medicaid Fraud Control Units,
  • Local Medicaid Fraud Control Units. 

Medicare fraud is a serious thing, and thus, its penalties are severe too. It is punishable by civil and criminal penalties. 

Civil penalties include financial penalties such as fines. The amount charged as a fine is three times the loss amount of the improperly set bill. Civil penalties can even add up to a million dollars. In addition to that, the people might be excluded from participating in any medicare program. 

Criminal penalties: it is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. If the violation results in a severe bodily injury, the penalty can be up to 20 years in prison. If the violation results in death, It is punishable up to life in prison. 

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  • Fraud 
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