Medical identity theft is now a growing problem
Medical and insurance officials say they’re seeing a growing trend of medical identity theft.
The World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit research group, estimates that 500,000 Americans have had their identity stolen for medical purposes.
It’s prompted one doctors office to scan patients’ IDs, and check them every time they come in.
The problem has also affected many doctors offices themselves.
Marge Ingrassia, director of billing for Middletown Medical PC, told the Times Herald-Record about a Medicare notice that warned doctors about schemes looking to steal their identity.
In one scheme, an incoming fax says that payments will be disrupted unless enrollment information is sent.
The Federal Trade Commission says the most important step people can take is not to give out personal information over the phone unless they’re sure who is on the other end of the line.
"The unscrupulous are resting on the hope that people won’t be diligent- especially after a loss," Charles Mitchell, commissioner for consumer affairs in Orange County, NY told the Times Herald-Record.
An InformationWeek survey of hospital compliance executives found that more than 40 percent of them felt that "problems are worsening despite major regulatory efforts."
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