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Just say no to identity theft

Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, August 16, 2007

Q: How can I eliminate identify theft or minimize the occurrence at our facility?

A: Here are three ways you can decrease the chance of identity theft at your organization.

1. Ask for identification: A student ID, a driver's license, or any photo identification will suffice. But make sure that you don't jump to conclusions if the name on the driver's license and the name on the insurance card don't match up.

   Just realize that the name perhaps may not match because of marriage, divorce, etc., so you may want to ask for a second piece of identification, just for validation.

2. Publicize your charity care program: Studies have shown that most offenders commit medical identity theft out of desperation when they truly need medical services but do not have insurance to cover the costs.

   Make everyone aware that they can receive services and pay on a sliding scale, or perhaps incur no costs at all if they qualify for charity care. That may minimize the risk of theft -it may encourage them to come in and talk to a financial counselor and see whether they qualify for charity care or medical indigence.

3. Publicize the criminal repercussions: Inform patients that stealing insurance or PHI is against the law. In some cases, you could have family members, a large family, and a few or even one person with valid insurance. Let them know that there are felony charges that can be brought against the thief or the original subscriber.

This question was answered by Donna K. Gilley, CCS, CHC, director of revenue cycle and regulatory compliance for LBMC Healthcare Group, LLC, in Brentwood, TN.

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