Common Methods Used to Commit Health Care Fraud

 Posted on May 09, 2017 in Fraud

There is an abundance of white collar crimes that authorities must deal with on a daily basis, from embezzlement and money laundering to mortgage fraud and classic cases of identity theft. All these crimes wreak havoc on the victims and businesses they affect, and the results are often devastating for everyone involved. Health care fraud is uniquely troubling in the sense that it can be a very personal yet impersonal crime, with repercussions that are far-reaching and difficult to repair.

The Healthcare System as a Platform for Fraud

With the overwhelming pool of money involved in the healthcare industry, it comes as no surprise that criminals often take advantage of the system and tamper with healthcare policies in order to achieve financial gain. It is easy to see how the appeal of these opportunities draws criminal offenders to prey on unsuspecting victims in the industry, as the business itself is a prime platform for fraudulent activity. These activities come with serious cost, however. All forms of health care fraud are taken very seriously by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and are considered federal crimes, which translate to severe consequences for an offender’s record and reputation.

Schemes Used to Collect Personal Information

The FBI reports that the following methods are some of the most common tactics used to commit health care fraud:

Deceiving beneficiaries - Approaching beneficiaries is a method many offenders use to initiate contact with someone attached to an existing policy in order to obtain patient and policy information. The beneficiary is typically lured to a specific location, such as a medical clinic, under the guise of a special gift, where their information is acquired when they sign in. The offender may also establish a rapport with the victim over a period of time to gain trust and collect more valuable information.

Bribing or coercing medical personnel - Another way private medical information is acquired to commit health care fraud is through direct contact with medical personnel, who have access to valuable patient information. Offenders will commonly entice, bribe, or deceive medical staff to gain access to patient records and insurance policy information, and may even work in teams to collect such information.

Collecting personal information at free healthcare screenings - This is one of the most basic avenues criminals take to collect the information they need to commit medical fraud. At free healthcare screenings, such as health fairs, personal patient information is acquired when unsuspecting victims step up to obtain a free health report of some sort. These health fair environments also commonly provide criminals with the opportunity to dig deeper, allowing them to speak with multiple family members or multiple victims in the course of a few short hours.

If you are concerned about your involvement in any form of medical fraud or are uncertain if your actions can be considered criminal activity, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable Chicago federal criminal lawyer before it is too late. Gather the insight and resources you need to ensure your rights are protected sooner, rather than later. Call the Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel LLC, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney at 312-629-0669 right away for a personal consultation.

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