Fraud and identity theft are sadly growing problems in the US. In 2017, one in 15 people were victims of identity fraud. According to Consumer Reports on the Office of Inspector General website, health insurance fraud specifically is on the rise, specifically Medicare and Medicaid.
Elderly are specifically at risk. They receive phone calls from people trying to “help them get medical equipment.” They ask for the person’s Medicare ID and Social Security number, and poof, they have enough info to fraudulently bill Medicare. Unfortunately, there are also legitimate healthcare providers out there who submit fraudulent claims for monetary gains.
If you’re a healthcare provider, you can prevent fraud in your facility with a thorough background check. Of course, you should always complete a traditional background check on all of your employees, but including additional reports in your search can help protect your patients.
True Hire can complete your criminal background checks as well as healthcare specific checks, like these:
- Health Care Sanction Check (FACIS)
- Health Care Sanction Monitoring (FACIS)
- Office of Inspector General (OIG) Excluded Parties/Entities (LEIE) Check
- General Services Administration (GSA) Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) Check
- Nurse Aide Registry Check
- Professional License and Certification Verification
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration Search
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Debarment List
- FDA Disqualified / Restricted / Assurances List Check
The OIG database specifically checks for healthcare providers who are known to have committed Medicare or Medicaid fraud, something a criminal background check wouldn’t catch if the provider wasn’t formally convicted of a crime. There is even an OIG Most Wanted Fugitives list for providers who are wanted for fraud and abuse charges.
Don’t get blindsided by hiring someone who could cause financial problems for you or your patients. Let True hire help with an in-depth background check. Contact us today for more information.
