Building an anti-fraud culture
Help build an anti-fraud and anti-corruption culture!
Members of EHFCN are organisations involved in countering healthcare fraud and corruption across Europe.They represent a wide variety of organisations, from Government Ministries and healthcare insurance companies to counter fraud investigation units and other public and private sector organisations who fight against healthcare fraud and corruption across Europe.
The network was established in order to provide its members with a platform where they can gain information, tools, training and assistance in fighting fraud and corruption in the healthcare sector and to offer them a forum where they can exchange experiences and ideas.
The network also represents its member associations towards European and international bodies such as the European Commission and the European Parliament, the World Health Organisation and other public entities or private agencies.
Your benefits
What will EHFCN membership provide?
Information on healthcare fraud and corruption issues and EU policy developments:
- EHFCN Electronic Newsletter: The EHFCN newsletter is sent by e-mail every two months. Regular features include members' activities or EHFCN office activities, recent EU policy developments and forthcoming events related to healthcare fraud and corruption.
- 'Members Only' section of EHFCN Website: Apart from the information available to the general public on the EHFCN website, corporate member associations (and all their employees) have access to tools, materials, strategy information and policy documents on website pages which are accessible only with a membership password.
- EHFCN News Bites: short alerts on investigation outcomes, sanctions and other related healthcare fraud and corruption stories are sent to members via e-mail once a month .
- E-Alerts: Short alerts are sent to members via e-mail whenever EHFCN events or important development in EU policy related to healthcare fraud and corruption take place.
Training and exchange of best practices on healthcare fraud and corruption
- EHFCN Annual Conference: The annual conference offers a forum for the professional exchange of knowledge and skills and the opportunity to network with delegates from across Europe including Ministries of Health, sickness funds, healthcare services, political leaders and other professionals committed to improving healthcare resources by reducing losses to fraud and corruption.
- EHFCN ‘Open Houses' are organised in order to provide a new opportunity for member organisations to present their strategies, methods of work and results achieved and facilitate the share of good practices. Although the first Open House which was to take place in Portugal in April 2010 has had to be postponed due to disrupted air traffic, future Open Houses will take place in France in June 2010, followed by Luxemburg in fall 2010, Norway, Q1 2011 and Belgium, April 2011.
- EHFCN Seminars and Training Sessions : Seminars and training sessions are organised in order to facilitate the share of good practices and new ideas to solve problems. Past topics include data mining and risk assessment and risk management of healthcare fraud. EHFCN is in the process of becoming a facilitator for accredited training aimed at counter fraud experts. These trainings will be accessible at a discounted rate for Corporate members.
- EHFCN's publications are aimed to help its members associations in their detection and investigation work. They provide methods, information and reference to other countries' strategies and legislation in relation to the fight against healthcare fraud and corruption.
Communication among EHFCN member organisations:
- EHFCN Standing Operational Committee (SOC) and Working Groups: EHFCN has a Standing Operational Committee (SOC) which offers members the opportunity to meet and discuss concrete issues related to the fight against healthcare fraud and corruption leading to tangible output. The SOC can convene ad-hoc working groups for more focussed discussions. The SOC meets 3 to 4 times a year and is open to corporate members. Members who wish to join are welcome to send an observer to the SOC for one year.
- At the moment, the Working Group on Cross-Border Fraud is analyzing the issues and contributing factors underlying cross-border healthcare fraud in Europe and working on a tool to determine risks. Further working groups can be set up following members' requests or at the suggestion of the Executive Committee.
- Twinning: EHFCN members sometimes face very concrete and particular difficulties; EHFCN wants to encourage the bilateral exchange of experiences between its members in order to address and solve these problems.
- EHFCN's comprehensive database is available to all members.
Support for awareness and advocacy work
EHFCN coordinates the awareness campaign against fraud and corruption, which ties in with the United Nations' International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December. The office produces information and materials to be used by its members in order to reach decision-makers, healthcare professionals, the wide public and the media.
Representation and participation at European and international fora:
- EHFCN aims to increase its participation at European fora in order to
- allow access to EU decision makers and major players through its office which is based in Brussels;
- share its expertise with Members of the European Parliament, Commission officials and other authorities and health professionals stakeholders in public health.
- Representation by the EHFCN President, Executive Committee Member or an EHFCN staff at working groups, conferences, and meetings organised by the EU institutions.
- Development of recommendations and/or position statements on EU policies related to healthcare fraud and corruption.
Other cooperation includes:
- Co-operation with the World Health Organization is currently being developed;
- Ad hoc collaboration with NGOs involved in the justice and home affairs sector, consumer affairs and other areas related to healthcare fraud and corruption is currently being developed.
Who is entitled to join?
Corporate Membership is open to entities which, in the judgement of the network, are committed to the pursuit of the aim, objective and general approach of the Network. Corporate membership falls into three categories of investment, which are linked to statutory representation in the network as well as some entitlements according to categories.
Corporate members must have an identifiable core of responsibility and/or involvement relating to the countering of fraud and corruption in healthcare systems and must be based in a European country which is a member of the Council of Europe.
Corporate membership may include:
- corporate, private or governmental entities directing, managing, delivering or resourcing the provision of healthcare;
- governmental entities with a specific role in countering healthcare fraud and corruption;
- representative entities for those directly involved in the provision of healthcare;
- representative entities of those directly involved in countering healthcare fraud and corruption.
Associate membership is open to entities who are not eligible for Corporate membership but which, in the judgement of the Network, are committed to furthering the aims of the network or is open to entities which are eligible for Corporate membership but choose not to become a Corporate Member.
Associate members will have no representation at the EHFCN General Assembly however they are entitled to restricted membership benefits.