The FTC has posted a useful guide to “medical identity theft” for health care providers and insurers.
Medical identity theft occurs when someone obtains health care services e.g. treatment, prescription drugs … using the identity of someone else, or when they use another person’s identity to submit false bills. The guide – Medical Identity Theft: FAQs for Health Care Providers and Health Plans – covers:
- red flags that might indicate a problem,
- advice on responding to incidents, and
- how to help your patients avoid identity theft.
Another useful resource is the FTC’s Facts for Consumers: Medical Identity Theft – a brochure in PDF format which can be made available to your patients.