News Release: NHSCFA targets £119m optical fraud problem
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) is attending 100% Optical at the Excel Centre, London (stand B67) on 27,28,29 January.
Published: 26/01/2018
Published: 26/01/2018
We have estimated that the sector costs the NHS an eye-watering £119 million every year in optical contractor fraud (£48m) and optical patient fraud (£71m) - out of an estimated total of £1.29 billion lost by the NHS to fraud annually.
The primary areas of optical fraud involve:
Sue Frith, Interim CEO of NHSCFA, says: "There is a clear gap between the probable scale of the problem and the seeming scarcity of optical fraud prosecutions and referrals in recent years, which must be closed. Attending 100% Optical is an important opportunity for our organisation to amplify this message."
Richard Hampton, Head of Intelligence and Fraud Prevention at NHSCFA, will address the conference at 1.45pm on Monday 29 January: "I will be setting the scene and putting optical fraud in the wider context of NHS fraud, but also focusing on how this audience can play its vital part in rooting out optical contractor fraud specifically".
NHSCFA staff will be at stand B67 throughout the weekend and on Monday.
Paul Gilderdale, Senior Fraud Prevention Officer, works in liaison with NHS England and others to close down and prevent the opportunities for individuals to commit optical fraud: "NHSCFA works to propose system-wide improvements to optical claims and payment systems".
NHSCFA's intelligence unit has analysed how the claims and payment system for General Ophthalmic Services operates and estimated the level of fraud being committed by both contractors and patients. Its Fraud Prevention Unit has identified a number of areas where improvements to systems can be made and is committed to working with NHS England to improve claim submission and payment verification processes to reduce fraud in the future.
If you suspect that anyone is committing fraud or another economic crime against the NHS, tell NHSCFA about it - you can call our 24-hour, confidential reporting line 0800 028 40 60 or use our online reporting tool
For more information contact James Robertson or Rianne Endeley-Brown at the NHSCFA press office on 020 7895 4524/4523.
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