NEWS MAIN

Medical Identity Theft

United Press International 9/25/2006
A retired California schoolteacher has found out the hard way about the newest form of identity theft -- using someone else`s information to obtain medical care.

 

Hospital bill collectors demanded Lind Weaver, 57, pay for the amputation of her right foot after an identity thief obtained care under her name and had the bill sent to her insurer, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Experts say rising medical costs have made it profitable for thieves to obtain care under stolen identities.

 

Unlike theft cases involving credit cards, unraveling medical identity theft is much more difficult due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

 

The law makes it difficult for patients to view their own medical records since doctors and hospitals face stiff penalties for improper disclosure of information.

 

Records become even harder to obtain if a person reports possible medical identity theft because now their information is mixed with that of another person.

 

Fraud victims also face possible injury or death if doctors make treatment decisions on wrong information.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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