Billing fraud in the healthcare sector generates total losses of more than 1.1 billion euros
Billing fraud in the healthcare sector has caused a total loss of more than 1.1 billion euros over the past 20 years. In 2020 and 2021 alone, fraud and corruption resulted in losses of around 132 million euros, of which less than half could be recovered, as the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) announced in Berlin on Thursday.
The area of home nursing care has become a focal point. For the first time in 2020/2021, the highest claims by far were incurred in this service area, amounting to 29.6 million euros. At the same time, the highest claims of almost 15 million euros were secured in this area, explained the GKV.
However, the number of unreported cases is significantly higher, which is why the health insurance association is once again pushing for reliable studies on the dark field of criminal misconduct in the healthcare sector. Although the conference of federal and state justice ministers last year also unanimously spoke out in favor of this, the federal government remains inactive.
"Every year, millions are lost due to billing fraud and corruption in the healthcare sector - money that seeps away into dark channels instead of being put to good use in medical care," criticized Gernot Kiefer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds. What is therefore needed is "finally a dark field study" as the basis for an effective concept to combat crime in the healthcare sector.
- Effective communication between healthcare providers and insurance companies is essential to minimize billing fraud, as miscommunication can lead to errors and misunderstandings that may result in fraudulent claims.
- The SHI (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds) is calling for a comprehensive study on the extent of billing fraud in the healthcare sector, as the total damage from fraud and corruption is estimated to reach billions of euros annually.
- The fight against billing fraud in the healthcare sector is not only about recovering lost billions of euros but also ensuring that public funds are used to provide quality healthcare services, rather than funding criminal activities.
Source: www.ntv.de
