Presbyterian | Spring 2018 | Your Story

3 www.phs.org/centennialcare What is medical identity fraud? Protect yourself If you think you are a victim of medical fraud, contact our confidential Fraud and Abuse hotline. It is open 24 hours a day. ■ ■ In Albuquerque at 1-505-923-5959 ■ ■ Toll-free at 1-800-239-3147 ■ ■ Email PHPFrau@phs.org ■ ■ You can also mail your concerns to us at: Presbyterian Health Plan Program Integrity Department (PID) P.O. Box 27489 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7489 ■ ■ Report online at www.phs.org/ health-plans/understanding- health-insurance/fraud-and- abuse/Pages/default.aspx Medical identity fraud is the use of stolen protected health information (PHI) for financial gain or to get medical services. This kind of fraud affects the victim, but it also affects healthcare providers, health plans, and taxpayers. One result of medical identity fraud is that other consumers pay more for health coverage and care to cover the costs of fraud. Victims of medical identity fraud can lose thousands of dollars. Identity fraud is known to fund other criminal activities. Children and seniors are in the most danger of medical identity theft. This is because children do not use their credit information for many years, and seniors are likely to have stable credit and do not watch it as closely. The internet has also made it easier for criminals to commit medical identity theft. However, friends or family members of the victim are more likely to steal this information from them. Another common way identity theft happens is with the loss or theft of a wallet. Your medical information is valuable. It can be gathered and sold for a lot of money. The buyers can use it to get medical care or take out loans in your name. When they don’t pay the bills, the victim’s credit can suffer. Here are a few ways you can protect your medical privacy and identity: ■ ■ Read all communications from your health plan and providers to make sure they are correct. ■ ■ Review all medical bills for services that you don’t recognize. ■ ■ Check your credit reports for unknown debts. ■ ■ Be careful of how you share your PHI, Social Security card, and insurance cards. If someone asks for them, ask them why they need it. Source: www.consumerreports.org/ medical-identity-theft/ protect-yourself-from-medical-identity-theft