On Wednesday, Rebecca participated in a Webinar for an Illinois Workers’ Compensation Association. She presented on the topic “Tips to Identify Healthcare Fraud in a Workers’ Compensation Setting.” In front of an audience of case managers, attorneys, human resource personnel and other healthcare professionals, Rebecca had a lively discussion on many aspects of healthcare fraud in a Workers’ Compensation setting.

Some highlights include:
Overall numbers –
The Insurance Information Institute estimates that all property/casualty insurance fraud cost insurers $30 billion annually.

Workers’ Compensation fraud accounts for approximately 25% or $7.2 billion a year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

The NICB characterizes Workers’ Compensation fraud as the “fastest growing segment of insurance fraud” in the nation.

Most studies indicate that the three parties primarily driving the cost of workers’ comp fraud are employers, medical providers, and employees.

Tips on spotting fraud:
Worker Claim Fraud
• Number of days worked and amount of salary inconsistent with occupation
• Injured worker disputes average weekly wage due to additional income (i.e., per diem and/or 1099 income)
• Cross-outs, white-outs and erasures on documents
• Injured worker files for benefits in a state other than principle location of the alleged industrial injury or occupational disease
• Injured worker-listed occupation is inconsistent with employer’s stated business
Employer Fraud
• Business displays or presents a Certificate of Coverage that contains inaccurate data, such as an implausible period of coverage
• Cross-outs, white-outs and/or erasures on documents, such as the Application for Ohio Workers’ Compensation Coverage (U-3) or Payroll Report (DP-21)
• Business name is not consistent with type of work being performed
• Number of employees, classifications and payroll are inconsistent
Provider Fraud
• Injured worker does not recall having received the billed service
• Provider’s medical reports read almost identically even though they are for different patients with different conditions
• Much higher healthcare costs than expected for the allowed injury type
• Frequency of treatments or duration of treatment period is greater than expected for allowed injury type, especially for older (non-catastrophic) claims

When investigating workers’ compensation fraud, always request detailed medical records and records of the injury. If all the facts don’t add up – you might be looking at fraudulent activity.

On July 26, 2010 Medical Business Associates’ CEO Rebecca Busch was featured on Chicago’s own WGN Midday News with Steve Sanders. During the segment, Your Money Matters, Rebecca provided tips for getting your personal healthcare portfolio in shape.

Rebecca’s appearance highlighted her latest book, Personal Healthcare Portfolio: Your Personal Health & Wellness Record. During the segment she offered viewers valuable time and money saving techniques when it comes to healthcare finances.

Here are some tips she provided during the interview:

1. Get your records organized and separate medical from financial.

2. Learn the reimbursement lingo in healthcare — start asking your doctor “What CPT codes are you billing me for?” That is a procedure code — patients never see this. Did you know doctors charge in increments of 15/20/45/60 minutes procedure codes? This is why you have to ask what code they are charging.

3. Ask your doctor “What diagnosis code are they billing in MY name?”

4. Ask for itemized copies of your bills as you receive your care.

5. Make sure you collect your health records as you receive your care — or obtain them once per year (ask your provider what their policy is on retention of records).

6. If your insurance company provides you an EOB (explanation of benefits) without procedure codes — ask them annually to print a claim file with the information. This is the best way to avoid being a victim of medical identity theft.

7. Be vigilant — although we have a healthcare crisis there is lots of money floating around.

To view the entire interview please visit WGN’s site here.