Washington —
BCBSA released the findings from its annual survey of Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies' anti-fraud activities at a briefing to highlight the growing problem of healthcare fraud and medical identity theft. Panelists at the briefing included Gregory W. Anderson, chair of the BCBSA National Anti-Fraud Advisory Board (NAAB) and VP, corporate and financial investigations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Michael Brandt, senior manager, special investigations, Blue Shield of California; and James Quiggle, director, communications, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies—in partnership with consumers, law enforcement, licensing boards and authorities—are actively identifying and pursuing healthcare fraud in an effort to assure healthcare affordability," says Byron Hollis, managing director of BCBSA's National Anti-Fraud Department. "Healthcare fraud wastes critical resources, and investigations can help make sure money is being spent on healthcare that meets consumer needs."
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies' anti-fraud investigators collectively prevented $134 million from being spent on fraudulent or erroneous medical claims, while recouping nearly $115 million paid on fraudulent claims. Nationally, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies' anti-fraud investigators opened 13,424 cases.
Other statistics from the BCBSA survey include:
• Nearly 10,000 cases involving providers were investigated
• 654 cases were referred to law enforcement officials
• 274 cases were sent to professional licensing authorities
• 350 cases resulted in arrests and/or indictments
• 259 cases led to criminal convictions
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan customers made more than 4,000 calls to anti-fraud hotlines
Panelists said healthcare fraud can take on many forms. "Medical identity theft is the fastest growing form of healthcare fraud, which continues to be a major financial drain on the health system," says Brandt.
According to the recently released Federal Trade Commission's 2006 Identity Theft Survey Report, 3% of the 8.3 million identity theft victims in 2005 had their personal information falsely used to obtain medical treatment and services.
"Consumer awareness and education is a key focus of Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies' anti-fraud efforts," says Anderson. "Coordination is also important, and Blue companies often work together on large medical identity theft cases that include different entities working together across state lines.”
Quiggle says medical identity theft can be dangerous as well as financially devastating. "Elaborate fraud rings using complicated schemes to maximize the use of stolen medical identities have become more commonplace," he says.
Panelists urged consumers to take more active roles in preventing healthcare fraud by reading and understanding their Explanation of Benefits (EOB). They also recommended that consumers check with their provider's office if there are inconsistencies on their EOB, or contact their health insurers if they have additional questions.
Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield
