Medical Identity Theft Is On The Rise

“Medical identity theft is on the rise and expected to worsen,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “The problem has grown during the recession as more uninsured people use the coverage of a friend, relative or even a stranger to get care. Of particular concern is the fact that most of the fraud is committed by people who pay medical workers for patients’ information.”

Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, “says the most dramatic increases in medical identity theft are in states with a lot of retirees, including California, Texas, New York, Arizona and Florida. … The consequences aren’t just financial. When someone uses another person’s identity, incorrect information could get into the medical files. ‘Whenever you have a commingled health-care file, you encourage risk,’ says Ms. Dixon. That’s because the files may have the wrong medical history, blood type and allergies — and that could have deadly results” (Mincer, 11/29).

Related KHN coverage: Coming To A Doctor’s Office Near You: Photo ID Check (Gold, 7/29).

Go to Source

People who read this also read

• Florida Congress Members Introduce Bill To Stiffen Medicare Fraud Laws
  American Medical News: Two members of Congress from Florida, emphasizing that "criminal penalties for Medicare fraud must be updated," have introduced legislation that would "double fines, increase background checks and even study how biometric technology could help ensure the appropriate use of pro...
• Health Care Fraud, Prescription Theft Lead To Significant Losses
  ABC News: "A four month 'Nightline' investigation into Medicare fraud makes one thing perfectly clear: this is a crime that pays and pays and pays. The federal government admits that a staggering $60 billion is stolen from tax payers through Medicare scams every year. Some experts believe the...
• Insurance Fraud Booms During Recession
  "The sour economy is producing a bumper crop of cash-strapped consumers, business owners and shady agents who're fueling a wave of insurance fraud that's keeping regulators and law enforcement officials busy from coast to coast," McClatchy reports. "Whether it's worthless health plans peddled by fax...
• Medical Identity Theft On The Rise
  NPR/WBUR: Medical identity theft - in which thieves use stolen social security numbers, names and insurance information to seek treatment under an assumed identity -is on the rise. "Over the past 12 months, [CoxHealth Hospital in Missouri] has seen nine instances of identity theft - four in the past...
• Nationwide ‘Medicare Fraud Strike Force’ Focuses On Driving Down Cost
  A "Medicare Fraud Strike Force," which started in south Florida, has now expanded across the country to indict more than 300 on fraudulent Medicare billing charges, The Washington Times reports. Officials say the strike force has broken up operations that attempted to defraud Medicare of more than $...