The health care system seems to stay under constant scrutiny. For every insured person, who is trying to pay their way honestly, there are a dozen mooching off the system and adding to the growing health care costs. It is important to know when looking at the health care system that not all of these incidents of fraud are on the patient's shoulders. Many medical professionals also take advantage of the system through inappropriate billing activities. Charging for procedures that were not actually performed, failing to do procedures that needed to be done for fear of not getting paid, and other malfeasances are rampant. Nowhere more so than when it comes to Medicaid or Medicare. These two government programs, which are designed to take care of medical costs, or at least help out greatly, among the elderly and disabled, who are unable to earn enough to pay for the remedies can be rampant with abuse. If you suspect abuse of any kind, then you should do the following:
1. Report to trusted medical professional.
Most professionals in the health care industry are there to help the patient, and that may not just mean health-wise. Many care about your overall wellness whether they're trying to get you over the flu, or they're trying to watch out for your pocketbook. Medical billing professionals, in particular, must be accountable for the things that they do at their jobs, and if you suspect fraud, you should try to politely address the issue with those who work closely with the numbers.
2. Document your visits.
There is nothing to stop you from recording your doctor's visits, so that you know exactly what was said and how it can help you. Not only is this a good idea for raising accountability in the health care world, but it is also a good tool to improve your health if you have specific instructions that need to be followed with regard to medications and treatment plans. Of course, it is always a good idea to extend the professional courtesy by informing him of your intentions ahead of time. An honest practitioner generally won't mind, and may even be doing the same thing.
3. Know who the powers are.
Picking up a phone and calling a Medicare or Medicaid representative is perhaps the best thing that you can do if you suspect something is amiss. Even if everything is on the up and up, you can at least receive a more adequate understanding of what constitutes fraud and what to watch out for moving forward.
The health care industry is still a promising industry of growth, but it won't stay that way if fraud is allowed to go on undetected.
