Every industry is rapidly moving toward complete digitization, and the healthcare industry is certainly no exception. Unfortunately, a world that is moving constantly toward more digital solutions will undoubtedly face mounting concerns over growing problems like medical billing fraud.
We’re going to take a look at what exactly medical billing fraud is, as well as go over a step-by-step walkthrough of how to report it. We’ll also discuss how AMS Solutions is uniquely positioned to be an effective, ethical, and error-free partner in outsourced medical billing.
What Is Medical Billing Fraud?
Medical billing fraud typically involves false claims or statements being made in relation to healthcare services. This means medical billing fraud can take many different potential forms, including billing for services not performed, double billing, or misrepresenting the services rendered. Fighting these unethical and illegal practices helps to be able to recognize and report instances of medical billing fraud.
How to Report Medical Billing Fraud: A Step-by-Step Approach
- Document Everything: The first and most important step in billing fraud reporting is documentation. Keep a record of every detail related to the suspected fraudulent billing. This includes dates, service descriptions, amounts billed, and records of any conversations you had with providers or insurers.
- Contact Your Insurance Company: Once you have gathered together all of the needed information and documentation, the next step is to contact your insurance company. They will generally have a dedicated fraud reporting hotline, and they will guide you in their specific fraud reporting process.
- Report To Authorities: If your insurance company doesn’t, or isn’t able to, resolve the issue, or if you suspect they may be involved in the fraud, it’s important to escalate the matter to the appropriate local, state, or federal authorities. This can include the state insurance commissioner’s office, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or even the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
- Get Legal Help & Representation: If the fraud has resulted in you suffering financial harm or other measurable damages, you may have the right to pursue compensation, but you’ll likely need to get an attorney involved. Consulting with a lawyer will often not only be able to get you answers to your questions, but it can get you guidance on the process, and may even result in the attorney taking the case on contingency.
Partner with AMS Solutions for a Fraud-Free Experience
Understanding how to report medical billing fraud is a critical skill in the modern highly digital healthcare landscape. By staying highly vigilant, you can help fight this unethical practice, ensuring that everyone pays their fair share for healthcare services. Remember, however, that prevention is the best strategy, and while understanding how to report medical billing fraud is essential, doing everything you can to prevent it is even better.
Partnering with one of the most trusted leaders in the medical billing services industry, like AMS Solutions, can go a long way toward providing you with peace of mind regarding your practice. Choosing a reliable billing partner like AMS means that you can count on your coding, billing, and collections to be handled in a professional, ethical, and legal manner that helps protect patient data integrity and security.
At AMS Solutions, we’re also committed to transparency and integrity in all aspects of our operations. We adhere to all local, state, and federal regulatory requirements, and ensure that all billing practices we engage in are accurate and compliant. We employ a robust checks and balances system to prevent any chance of fraudulent activity, providing a safe and reliable billing service for all of your organization’s needs. Reach out to AMS Solutions today to learn more or to get started making the switch.