NICB Says Stop SCAMS Act Will Help Fight Insurance Fraud

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says a bill introduced in the Senate yesterday provides much needed support for fighting healthcare fraud. The Stop Schemes and Crimes Against Medicare and Seniors (Stop SCAMS) Act, was introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), and is co-sponsored by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).]

The bill contains important provisions to strengthen the Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership (HFPP). The Partnership was established last year to focus on joint efforts to fight fraud by both the public and private sectors.

"NICB is particularly focused on the bill's carefully crafted provisions relating to the sharing of fraud-related information and investigative activities among the HFPP's partners," said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle.

This language is consistent with the HFPP's anti-fraud program and with laws already in effect in many states governing anti-fraud insurance investigations.

"The same fraudsters who prey on government healthcare programs and private health insurance also target the medical component of auto and workers' compensation insurance," said Wehrle. "The HFPP is the most comprehensive effort ever undertaken to bring the nation's public and private resources together to protect the integrity of medical care and insurance. The Stop SCAMS Act's support for the HFPP will strengthen it and the anti-fraud program overall."

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote $371 billion in insurance premiums in 2013, or more than 78 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 93 percent ($168 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance.