Healthcare fraud costs the United States 42 billion dollars a year, but a number of approaches, including new computer technology, are helping to reduce fraud and minimize its impact on the rising cost of healthcare for consumers.  This past year Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, which provide coverage for nearly one out of three Americans, saved 157 million dollars from more than 20-thousand cases of fraud.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Anti-Fraud Director Byron Hollis:

�Consumers pay the steepest price for fraud in the form of higher healthcare costs, reduced access to quality healthcare services and they can become a victim of a healthcare fraud scheme.  While the Blue Plans are continuing to employ innovative approaches to combat fraud, the first line of defense is the consumer, who can help be being alert to unusual charges or schemes and by reporting their suspicions to their insurance carrier or to a law enforcement official.�

Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans recovered 75-million dollars from fraudulent claims and prevented nearly 82-million in false claims through aggressive prepayment review.