Federal authorities in New Jersey rolled out a pilot program Monday aimed at encouraging the public to report suspected health care fraud.
Citing an estimated $7.5 million in losses in New Jersey from health care fraud in 2010, the FBI’s Newark office unveiled a series of digital advertisements that will be placed in shopping mall kiosks and on highway billboards across the state.
“Most people probably don’t recognize health care fraud,” FBI spokesman Bryan Travers said. “Most people probably think: `The government will take care of it;’ Well, we will, but we need to know where it’s happening.”
Health care fraud accounts for one of the largest losses of taxpayer dollars from any government program, according to Travers, who said despite heavy losses in New Jersey, only 18 cases of fraud were reported by the public in 2010.
FBI officials, working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, hope to increase the number of tips they get from anyone who suspects a health care provider has overbilled them, filed claims for procedures that were not performed, or believes a health worker might be unlicensed or improperly billing an insurance company.
The New Jersey ad campaign will run for two months, and if successful, will be expanded nationally. It marks the first time the FBI has used advertising to promote one of its general investigative programs, according to Travers.
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