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Healthcare fraud is no light matter, and it’s unfortunately very pervasive and costly. In fact, the National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association has estimated that healthcare fraud cases cost the United States roughly $68 billion annually, which equates to roughly 3% of the country’s $2.26 trillion in healthcare spending.
Given the ever-prominent nature of healthcare fraud, it’s essential that healthcare experts familiarize themselves with the risks associated with this type of crime. Here is everything you need to know to properly understand healthcare fraud, along with your rights in defending yourself against wrongful claims.
What Are Some Examples of Healthcare Fraud?
Fraud is described as any dishonest and deliberate act that is committed with the knowledge that it would likely result in unauthorized benefit to the individual committing the act who is not entitled to that benefit. There are several types of healthcare fraud, some of which you may not even have been familiar with. Some examples of common healthcare fraud offences include:
- Misrepresentation of the type or level of service provided
- Misrepresentation of the person providing service
- Billing for items or services that have not actually been rendered
- Billing for services that have failed to be properly documented
- Billing for items or services that are not even medically necessary
Why Is It Important to Actively Protect Against Healthcare Fraud?
Healthcare practices and organizations, including healthcare technology (healthtech) companies, should actively develop strategies to protect against healthcare fraud before potential investors and companies do it for them. This proactive approach can allow companies to reap several benefits: it can give them a competitive edge, reduce risk and increase future viability, and potentially increase investors’ and consumers’ trust in the company. Not to mention it can save a healthcare company a significant amount of money in the long run.
Your Rights In Defending Yourself Against a Healthcare Fraud Accusation
While many healthcare fraud claims are genuine in nature, there is a possibility that your healthcare practice could be wrongfully accused of healthcare fraud. Such an accusation can be incredibly damaging to you and your business; it could lead to negative media coverage, taint your reputation and that of your practice, and lead to severe legal and economic repercussions. As a result, it is vital to familiarize yourself with your options for defense.
The best tool to utilize in cases like these is a defense attorney that specializes in healthcare fraud, such as Oberheiden P.C. With experience serving clients from all over the country, Dr. Nick Oberheiden and his team of seasoned lawyers have a proven track record of resolving healthcare fraud allegations. They work diligently to fix your healthcare fraud case, without ever surrendering or experimenting with your freedom.
Ultimately, healthcare fraud is a complex and often overwhelming realm to navigate. By familiarizing yourself with the risks associated with this type of crime, the importance of protecting your business against such threats, and your rights in the event of a false accusation, you will be better equipped to handle healthcare fraud matters with confidence and peace of mind.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
