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How Technology is Helping to Detect and Prevent Medicare Fraud

April 4, 2023

In recent years, advances in technology have revolutionized the healthcare industry and are helping to detect and prevent Medicare fraud, but still fall far short of supplanting the need for insiders to come forward and blow the whistle using sophisticated statutes like the False Claims Act. Medicare fraud is a serious problem that costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year, and technology is playing a key role in identifying fraudulent activity and preventing it from happening in the first place. In this article, we will explore how technology is helping to detect and prevent Medicare fraud.

Data Analytics and Machine Learning

Data analytics and machine learning are two of the most effective ways to detect Medicare fraud. These technologies can detect patterns and anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity by analyzing large amounts of data. Data analytics, for example, can flag claims for services that are unlikely to be provided to a specific patient, such as a procedure that is not medically necessary. Machine learning can also detect unusual patterns of behavior, such as a provider billing for more services than other providers in the same specialty on a consistent basis.

Healthcare organizations can identify potential instances of fraud and investigate them further by using data analytics and machine learning. This can help to avoid paying fraudulent claims and deter future fraudulent activity.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is another technology that is assisting in the detection and prevention of Medicare fraud. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to automate the process of reviewing claims and detecting potential instances of fraud. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) can analyze claims data and flag those that are likely to be fraudulent based on certain criteria, such as the provider’s billing history or the type of service being provided.

Artificial intelligence can also be used to monitor provider behavior and identify any patterns that may indicate fraudulent activity. For example, AI can examine a provider’s billing history and identify any unusual patterns, such as an unexpected increase in the number of services billed.

Through the use of AI, healthcare organizations can identify potential instances of fraud more quickly and accurately. This can help prevent fraudulent claims from being paid and save taxpayers money.

Proactive Fraud Prevention

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently began leveraging predictive modeling technology to identify fraudulent claims before they are paid.

Innovative risk scoring technology analyzes Medicare claims and detects fraud, waste, and abuse using detailed predictive modeling. CMS will now be able to use real-time data to spot suspicious claims or providers and stop fraudulent payments before they are awarded.

“Predictive modeling is a revolutionary new way to detect fraud and abuse, integrating effective and timely actions with protections and savings for Medicare and taxpayers,” said Peter Budetti, MD, JD, director of CMS’ Center for Program Integrity.

How Does It Work?

To scrutinize incoming Medicare claims, identify potential problems, create alerts, and assign “risk scores,” the new platform employs proven predictive models and other advanced analytics.

These flagged claims are routed to case managers for review, allowing the CMS to assess the need for investigation or further enforcement. To reduce turnaround time and streamline reviews, algorithms can filter claims by beneficiary, provider, service origin, or other patterns.

Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring to Prevent Fraud

Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring (RPM) are emerging technologies that are being used to prevent Medicare fraud. These technologies allow healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely and provide care without the need for in-person visits. This reduces the risk of fraudulent billing for unnecessary or nonexistent services. 

RPM allows healthcare providers to track a patient’s vital signs, symptoms, and medication use in real-time, providing timely interventions when necessary. Telemedicine, on the other hand, enables healthcare providers to deliver care remotely using video conferencing and other communication technologies. This allows patients to receive care from the comfort of their own homes, reducing the need for unnecessary hospitalizations or office visits. Overall, telemedicine and RPM are important tools in preventing Medicare fraud by promoting cost-effective care and reducing the risk of billing for unnecessary services.

Collaborating with Law Enforcement: Technology’s Role in Investigating Fraud

Collaborating with law enforcement is an essential aspect of detecting and preventing Medicare fraud. Technology plays a significant role in this collaboration by providing law enforcement agencies with access to valuable data and analytical tools. For instance, data analytics can help identify patterns of fraudulent activity, while machine learning algorithms can help detect new and emerging types of fraud. Electronic health records, along with other digital sources of medical data, can also provide investigators with a wealth of information to help build cases against fraudsters. 

Furthermore, communication tools such as secure messaging platforms can facilitate real-time collaboration between law enforcement agencies and healthcare providers. By leveraging technology to collaborate with law enforcement, healthcare organizations can help ensure that Medicare fraudsters are brought to justice and that taxpayer dollars are protected.

The Role of Technology in Educating Healthcare Providers About Fraud Prevention

Technology plays a crucial role in educating healthcare providers about fraud prevention. With the increasing prevalence of fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry, it has become essential to use technology to educate healthcare providers about fraud prevention techniques. Technology has made it possible to disseminate information about fraud prevention through online courses, webinars, and interactive simulations. 

Additionally, technology has enabled the development of advanced data analytics tools that can detect fraud patterns and identify potential areas of vulnerability in healthcare organizations. Technology also plays a crucial role in enabling healthcare providers to communicate with each other to share best practices and discuss emerging trends in fraud prevention. Overall, technology has significantly enhanced the ability of healthcare providers to prevent and detect fraud, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

Preventing Fraud by utilizing Whistleblower Lawyers

Technology can play a significant role in detecting and preventing fraud through advanced data analytics and real-time monitoring. However, insiders are still the key to success to combat Medicare fraud. In building the better mousetrap as the technology to detect fraud becomes more sophisticated, the technology to evade detection will evolve and become more sophisticated too.  Further, certain types of illegal conduct such as the use of kickbacks which are prohibited under the Anti-Kickback Statue (AKS) or self-referrals, which is prohibited by the Stark Law are unlikely to be detected through advanced technological means and instead rely on insiders to come forward and blow the whistle the right way.  Other instances that could evade detection are the pharmaceutical fraud practice of promoting products for off label usage, which is sometimes coupled with offering free stuff to induce the use of a product, which is another prohibited kickback.  Under the False Claims Act, you must use whistleblower lawyers to file a qui tam lawsuit, as there’s a prohibition on filing the case pro se (without a lawyer). 

If you have technologically realized or through AI recognized a pattern that appears to be fraud, or are an insider that knows about the fraud, there’s no time better than right now to learn your rights and understand the process of blowing the whistle.  Each year millions of dollars of whistleblower awards are given out to people who speak up the right way, and it is estimated that there’s billions of whistleblower rewards over the next decade if you file the right whistleblower lawsuit with some of the best whistleblower law firms.