Patent ID: 6820059
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
A method for reducing fraud in a non-health government benefits program consisting of the steps of:a. registering a service provider with a governmental agency and issuing a service provider identification code; b. registering at least one service or at least one good of the service provider with the non-health government agency and identifying a claim code for each registered service or registered good; c. issuing a smart card to an individual related to a non-health government benefits program, wherein the non-health government benefits program is associated with the governmental agency, wherein the individual has an individual identification code, and wherein the smart card has a smart card identification feature to identify the individual; d. using the smart card with a chip to determine if the individual: i. is the authorized bearer of the card; and ii. is eligible for benefits from the non-health government benefit program; e. using the smart card operatively connected to a biometric device to determine if a service provider is preauthorized to provide a registered product or registered service under the non-health government benefit program; f. using the smart card to facilitate a first transmission from the service provider to the government agency, wherein the first transmission comprises: i. the service provider identification code; ii. the individual identification code; iii. proposed information selected from the group consisting of proposed product information for the individual; proposed service information for the individual; corresponding claim codes for the proposed product; and corresponding claim codes for the proposed service; and iv. a request to confirm: 1. the individual's eligibility for benefits under the non-health government benefit program; 2. a validation that the proposed good or service is approved for the individual; 3. the service provider's eligibility to render services or provide goods under the non-health government benefit program; and 4. a request to participate in an accelerated payment program for the proposed good or the proposed service; g. using the smart card to facilitate a second transmission from the government agency to the service provider, wherein the second transmission comprises: i. the individual's eligibility for benefits under the non-health government benefit program; ii. a validation that the proposed good or proposed service is approved for the individual; iii. a validation of the service provider's eligibility to render services under the non-health government benefit program; iv. a conformation that an accelerated payment program is available; and v. an authorization code to provide the proposed product and/or proposed service; h. using the smart card to facilitate a third transmission from the service provider to the government agency, wherein the third transmission comprises: i. a claim codes list for services rendered; ii. acknowledgement by the individual that information on the product and/or service was provided to the individual; iii. acknowledgement that the product or service has been received from the service provider; and iv. a request for accelerated payment by the governmental agency to the service provider.