How to stop healthcare fraud and corruption

Overview

• If you are a healthcare provider
• If you are patient
• If you are a supplier
• If you are a policy maker
• Fraud reporting lines
  

EHFCN calls on everyone to collaborate on eliminating fraud and corruption within healthcare. Despite the different healthcare systems and reimbursement methods, here are a few advice we would like to give you. Some may not be applicable in your country, but some are worth taking into account anywhere.

If you are a healthcare provider:

• Refuse to pay or accept bribes, facilitation fees or gifts
• Foster economic stability by enforcing zero-tolerance practices towards corruption
• Report incidents of corruption
  

If you are a patient:

• Refuse to pay or accept bribes, facilitation fees or gifts
• Never give out personal information to someone you don't know – including social security numbers (and of course bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.)
• Get medical help onlyfrom your personal doctor, hospital or clinic. They are the only ones who should make referrals for special equipment, services or medicine.

• Check with your health care provider before buying or investing in any Internet “cure-all” or “miracle” products or services.

• If you suspect any fraud in healthcare or social security, report it by contacting you insurance company. Across Europe, different rules on reporting fraud might apply. Therefore contact your insurance company or insurance department of your country first to find out what the best procedure is.
• Tell elected officials that fighting corruption should be an integral part of all development policies
• Demand easy access to transparent healthcare information, for example on the services citizens are entitled to and their costs
• Inform yourself about the rule of law and what the Government has pledged to do to fight
  

If you are a supplier:

• Ensure that companies providing healthcare follow international good practices to provide services and
  supplies that benefit all
• Strictly enforce anti-corruption measures and use independent auditors to ensure compliance.
• Foster economic stability by enforcing zero-tolerance practices towards corruption.
• Report incidents of corruption.
• Inform yourself about the rule of law and what the Government has pledged to do to fight
  

If you are a policy maker:

• Report incidences of corruption to the authorities
• Refuse to participate in any activities that are not legal and transparent
• Ensure that funds are not diverted away from health care
• Ratify and implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption
• Know what the Convention requires of your Government and its officials
• 
  

Some countries in the EU already provide a (healthcare) fraud reporting line, namely:

• UK / Northern Ireland: The HSC Fraud Hotline. The telephone number is: 08000 96 33 96.  The HSC Fraud Hotline is used by members of the public or Health Service staff to report their suspicions. 
• UK / Scotland: report suspected frauds against the National Health Service. The telephone number is: 08000 15 16 28. Fraud can also be reported online by clicking here.
• UK / England - Wales: The NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line (FCRL) is a freephone number: 0800 028 40 60. Fraud can also be reported online at www.reportnhsfraud.nhs.uk.
  
• The Netherlands: Fraud reporting hotline of The Dutch Healthcare Authority. Fraud can be reported online by clicking here. There is also a National Fraud Helpdesk available including a telephone line for questions and reporting of fraud. Click here for the National Fraud Helpdesk.
• Spain - Catalonia: Fraud and corruption in the healthcare sector can be reported to the Subdivision of Healthcare Evaluation and Inspection of the Catalan Ministry of Health. Telephone number: 0034 934824428.
• Poland: Fraud and corruption can be reported through to the free helpline at the office of the Patients Rights Speaker.Telephone number: 800 190 590. For information about corruption you can also refer to the Central Anticorruption Bureau by the following telephone number: 800 808 808. Additionally, corruption can also be reported to the Police Headquarters, the telephone number is: 48 22 60 150 90.
  

Also check these websites

http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/fight_health_care_fraud/

http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/protectyourself/index.html