ATLANTA (May 9, 2013) – Senate Bill 170, which creates the offense of medical identity fraud was signed into Georgia law on Tuesday, May 7, by Governor Nathan Deal. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R – Marietta), a longtime advocate for health care efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
“The fastest form of identity theft is stealing people’s medical and health insurance information to defraud private and public healthcare providers. Similar to financial identity theft, this harms people and drives up the cost of healthcare as medical facilities and insurance companies compensate by increasing rates. Potential identity thieves should consider themselves warned that this type of theft and fraud will be severely punished and not tolerated in our state,” said Sen. Hill
SB 170 states that a person commits medical identity fraud when he or she willfully and fraudulently uses identifying information of any real, fictitious or deceased person of any age to obtain medical care, prescription drugs, health care services, money or other financial gain. This legislation would coordinate medical identity fraud with identity fraud for jurisdiction and prosecution purposes.
In addition, veteran and military medical identification numbers will be added to the definition of “identifying information”, while the following targets of thieves will be added to the law for prosecution: health insurance, health savings accounts, health spending accounts, flexible spending accounts, Medicare accounts, Medicaid accounts, dental insurance and vision insurance.
SB 170 will become effective on July 1, 2013.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
May 9, 2013
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Jennifer.Yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028