They were from the federal government and were investigating the national company. They needed to know how much I could remember about the set-up and what was happening at the screening. Apparently, this national company had billed Medicare hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing done in centers all over the United States-like the one we had visited. Thus began my education in Medicare fraud and abuse. Like so many things in life, a good thing can be ruined by someone else's greed.
Most physicians feel that screening tests are worthwhile.
They give us the opportunity to diagnose disease at an early stage, when treatment is simpler and more efficacious. And for those of us in the laboratory, unless we can substantiate these orders, we are held to be fraudulent. Fraud and abuse has entered our examining rooms, as well. If we try to help our patients who might have difficulty paying by forgiving debts or co-pays, we may be accused of committing fraud. Heaven help us if we want to extend professional courtesy to our colleagues.