Health Care Fraud: An Unfortunate Certainty

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

James D. Ratley, CFE
ACFE President and CEO

Death and taxes. Add health care to that short list of certainties. And while you're at it, tack on the word fraud to health care.

In May 2012, U.S. authorities charged 107 people, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for allegedly trying to defraud Medicare of about $452 million — the largest Medicare fraud sweep to date. The sad thing is that chances are that we'll probably soon be reading about an even more serious case.

"Health care fraud shows no sign of abating," said Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, founder and chairman of the ACFE, during his keynote message at the 23rd Annual ACFE Fraud Conference & Exhibition. "Don't expect a downturn anytime soon."

Because health care fraud affects everybody, and many ACFE members work in the industry, we've begun the new "Rx for Fraud" column and will occasionally include feature articles on the topic.

In Fraud Magazine's cover article, "10 popular health care provider fraud schemes," author Charles E. Piper, CFE, CRT, writes that the difference between the health care realm and many other industries is its huge, alluring, easy pile of cash. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), national health expenditures in the U.S. reached $2.6 trillion in 2010 — 17.9 percent of GDP. 

The CMS projects U.S. health spending to rise to 7.4 percent in 2014, as a result of the major coverage expansions from the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA) — an estimated additional 22 million people will be insured. Over the period of 2015–2021, health spending is projected to grow at an average rate of 6.2 percent annually. 

Piper's 10 schemes aren't exhaustive — providers have many more tricks up their lab-coat sleeves. But these are representative of classic crimes. Of course, most health providers, facilities and institutions are dedicated to giving, not taking. However, the small percentage who are fraudsters can steal large amounts because they're close to the money, and they enjoy the trust of institutions and patients.

To learn more about the subject, here are two great possibilities:  

Health care fraud — like death and taxes — isn't going anywhere. In fact, it will increase in the next decade. We're here to help deter and combat it.