Patient Charge Evation Scams

Financial loss that are suffered by majority of the branded companies in the world due to the fraudulent approach of the scammers will be around billions of dollars and still several branded and famous companies are receiving phishing mails from the scamming world then and there. Though financial sectors and bankers are installing high quality anti-virus software they are unable to arrest this menace completely. Scammers are becoming technical savvy and target the companies in unique ways with the objective of swindling huge amount from their bank accounts. Scammers will send a phishing mails or dial the innocent people and prompt them to provide important personal and financial details such as login credentials. When the innocent people provide the credentials the scammers will swipe the amount instantly.

Nowadays scams related to patient charge evasion are becoming extremely popular. In these types of scams the patients will avoid paying for charges they owe. It will include charges of prescription or optical and dental charges. The patients may avoid these charges intentionally by falsely claiming exemptions or using aliases. Many countries are losing millions of dollars due to scams that are related to prescription charges. Several countries issue prescription charges card as an aid to support the families those who are in the middle income group. But GPs, patients and medical shops use these prescriptions charges wrongly and due to this NHP of various countries lose several million dollars early. Health ministers of several countries have now taken up the scams related to prescription charges evasion seriously and instructed the departments concerned to take strong actions against the criminals those who are using the cards wrongly.

"Patient Charge Evasion Scams" refer to fraudulent activities aimed at manipulating healthcare billing processes to avoid or reduce legitimate charges for medical services. In these scams, unscrupulous individuals may employ various deceptive tactics, jeopardizing both individual patients and the integrity of the healthcare system. One prevalent scheme involves upcoding or unbundling, where scammers artificially inflate charges by billing for more expensive services than those actually provided or by separating bundled services to exaggerate costs. Identity theft plays a significant role in these scams, with fraudsters using stolen or fabricated patient information to generate false claims for services that were never rendered. Kickback and referral schemes also contribute to patient charge evasion, involving illicit payments to healthcare providers in exchange for patient referrals or specific services.

False documentation is another common element in these scams, as fraudsters create fictitious medical records to substantiate fraudulent claims. These activities not only pose financial risks to individuals but also undermine the trust and efficiency of the broader healthcare system.

To protect against patient charge evasion scams, individuals should carefully review medical bills and insurance statements, promptly questioning any discrepancies. Safeguarding personal and health insurance information is crucial to prevent identity theft. If suspicions arise, individuals should reach out to healthcare providers or insurance companies for clarification. Reporting any suspected fraud to relevant authorities, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or state health departments, is essential for combating these fraudulent activities. By staying vigilant and informed, individuals contribute to maintaining the transparency and honesty of healthcare billing practices, ensuring the integrity of the healthcare system as a whole.

In many countries instances have come to light that several pharmaceutical shops submit counterfeit prescription forms and try to evade tax. It is imperative to note that exemptions are given only to selected groups and not for everyone. Now these types of scams are becoming a global challenge and the health ministers are seriously looking into these types of scams that are happening in many places. Patients' those who are going to nursing homes or clinics have to bear all the charges and should not avoid paying them since it is a serious offense. Acting in connivance with the pharmacists or GPs and avoiding certain charges such as optical, dental and prescription is considered as a criminal offense. Some of the important points the patients have to consider after stepping into the clinic are:

• They are expected to settle all the bills, fees, charges and taxes properly and if they have come under exemptions then they should show proper proofs supporting their stands.
• They should pay the charges completely that they owe to the hospitals and pharmacists such as dental charges, optical charges and prescription charges.
• If they find any malpractice in the billing sections of the hospital the patients should escalate the matter to the highest authority.
• Hospitals or pharmacist should escalate the matter to the cyber cell when the patients deliberately avoid paying the above charges.