3 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Patients from Identity Thieves
3 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Patients from Identity Thieves
- April 26th, 2010By Christian R. Cox, JD, moloney + o’neil commercial insurance & surety
Add identity thieves to the long list of crooks targeting doctors and their patients. Identity theft, and especially medical records identity theft, is the fastest growing crime in America. Every day, new evidence of this escalating crime wave is brought to light:
- April 7, 2010, Phoenix, AZ: “Man charged with posing as fertility doctor to molest people.” A man allegedly stole the identity of a Scottsdale, Arizona physician so he could sexually molest people while pretending to give them physical examinations. The man is facing similar charges in California, where he’s accused of stealing the identity of a San Francisco doctor and posing as a “Dr. Richardson” at a Los Angeles clinic.
- March 25, 2010, Chicago, IL: “Identity-theft ring hits Northwestern doctors’ group’s patients.” A janitor allegedly stole personal information from 250 patient files at a Northwestern University physicians’ group and used the information to charge more than $300,000 in jewelry, furniture, appliances and electronics.
- March 2, 2010, Houston, TX: “DME owner pleads guilty to Medicare fraud and aggravated identity theft.” A durable medical equipment company owner admitted to using the Universal Provider Identification Number and National Provider Identification Number of a local physician to submit false Medicare claims. Investigators also found equipment orders with the forged signatures of at least twelve physicians. A similar crime occurred in California in which identity thieves used several physicians’ stolen identities to order $3.9 million of bogus tests then billed Medicare and Medicaid for the tests.
- October 19, 2009, Chicago, IL: “850,000 physicians urged to be on the lookout for signs of identity theft.” Unencrypted identifying information for every physician who contracts with a BlueCross BlueShield-affiliated insurance plan was on a laptop computer stolen from an association employee. This information included the social security numbers of 187,000 physicians.
- February 2, 2009, Rancho Cucamonga, CA: “Attorney General announces charges against physician for prescription drug fraud and identity theft.” Authorities allege that Dr. Lisa Barden stole prescription pads from twelve of her fellow doctors to obtain pain killers. Dr. Barden also allegedly stole the personal information of ninety-three patients.
Physicians are especially susceptible to the crime of identity theft since their identities are readily accessible from the internet, physician directories, or even the yellow pages. Physicians’ personal and professional information is maintained in multiple files that are accessible to employees and janitors. A common trick identity thieves use is to obtain a Medicaid provider number in the physician’s name then simply submit a change of address request. The identity thieves then submit fraudulent claims and cash the reimbursement checks that they receive at the fake address. These same identity thieves also apply for credit cards using the physician’s personal information and run up huge debts without being detected.
Doctors insure their houses, cars, and boats but do not protect their personal and professional identities. Numerous Identity Theft Protection Products have been advertised, but these products vary widely in the protection they offer. To protect your identity, choose a plan that offers at least the following services:
•1. Resolution: The Plan should assist with the process of recovering from identity theft, including placing fraud alerts with all three credit reporting agencies.
•2. Restitution: The Plan should reimburse all expenses associated with recovering from identity theft.
•3. Credit Monitoring: The Plan should track all changes to your financial or public records.
Every American faces the risk of identity theft, and the personal and professional consequences can be devastating. There are measures you can take to reduce your risks, but like the 850,000 physicians whose personal information was compromised through no fault of their own, precautions may not be enough. By choosing the right identity theft protection plan, you can protect yourself, your family, and your business when identity thieves strike.
To sign up for preferred pricing identity theft protection, visit www.icrbridge.com and submit 3C8AF-37 as your special referral code.
To learn more about the author or moloney + o’neil, call 1-800-801-4448 or email ccox@moloneyoneil.com
