As a health care provider, it is your job to know the ins and outs of every law. Along with this, you need to act in a trustworthy and honest manner at all times. For example, you should never cross the line when it comes to matters of Medicare. If you do, you could soon find yourself charged with Medicare fraud.
There are times when a medical provider commits Medicare fraud without understanding what they did. Unfortunately, authorities do not consider ignorance a good excuse for making a mistake.
Here are some signs that could point towards Medicare fraud:
— When a physician bills Medicare for telephone calls or appointments that were scheduled but not kept.
— When a physician bills Medicare for a routine check-up.
— When a physician provides the wrong diagnosis on a claim form so that Medicare will pay.
— When an ambulance company bills Medicare for nothing more than a routine trip to a doctor’s office.
Along with the above, home health providers also need to tread softly as there are many things that can be considered Medicare fraud.
All medical providers need to be familiar with Medicare laws. If you find yourself billing Medicare at any time, it is a must to understand what you are and are not permitted to do. Furthermore, any gray area should be clarified by the appropriate party.
With authorities cracking down on medical professionals who commit Medicare fraud, it is more important than ever to know exactly what you are doing. Believe it or not, there are times when authorities become overzealous and investigate a company that did not commit fraud.
Source: FindLaw, “Medicare Fraud Tips,” accessed April 07, 2016
