Posted on 03/11/2005 10:40:58 PM PST by FairOpinion
Clinics, doctors, others named in lawsuit over alleged 'rent-a-patient' con in Southland.
Striking back at nine Southern California clinics accused of running a massive insurance scam, Blue Cross/Blue Shield has filed suit in federal court alleging that a dozen of the insurance giant's state plans were bilked out of $30 million in unnecessary surgeries and medical procedures.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, names 40 clinics, owners, management companies and physicians and stems from a "rent-a-patient" scam in which recruiters allegedly enlisted patients nationwide to travel to Southern California for unneeded procedures in return for cash, vacations or cosmetic surgery.
The clinics filed between $600 million and $700 million in fraudulent claims to Blue Cross/Blue Shield and about 90 other insurance companies, of which $345 million was paid since 1999, according to the FBI, which is investigating. At least seven of the nine clinics named in the lawsuit are in Orange County.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
bttt
Bring 'em to justice.
Here's the NY Times article with some different information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/12/national/12insure.html?hp&ex=1110690000&en=5b02db334b292d2c&ei=5094&partner=homepage
"Hollis said the investigation received a boost in 2002, when several "rental patients" in Arizona went to authorities after receiving bills for lab work and other treatment not covered by their insurance plans".
All was fine when they were getting "bribes" to cooperate in the scheme, but OH MY!, things looked a lot different when they were faced with having to pay a doctor's bill with (GASP!)their own money.
NYT article says the patients are not being sued. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE TO FORFEIT SOME OF THEIR INSURANCE BENEFITS! AARRRGH! THE INSANITY.
BTTT.
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