Biometrics for Patient ID Program Aims to Curb Prescription Drug Abuse

Gallia first to enroll in Rx pilot program (Daily Tribune - Gallipolis, OH)

The program, being launched through a public-private partnership between regional health care provider Holzer Health System and CrossChx, a company based in Gallipolis, is known as the Biometric Enrollment and Verification Prescription System and will allow doctors to compare health records from multiple sources to help determine the eligibility of a patient to receive a prescription for medication.

CrossChx (pronounced “cross checks”) will provide the technology to track health information and will, specifically, use biometrics, or the identification of an individual through his or her inherit traits — in this case, fingerprints — to allow prescribers to receive real-time patient information.

The article goes on to note that, locally, 30% of the infants in the neo-natal intensive care unit are addicted to opiates.

Can smart cards curb $370 billion in Medicare fraud?

Politicians eye tech to reduce losses in Medicare, Medicaid (SecureIDNews.com via @m2sys)

With the budget battle underway, the case for a strong identity credential for Medicare may be too good for Congress to pass up. Smart cards could help the federal government to reduce Medicare fraud and abuse to the tune of $370 billion in the next 10-years, says Kelli Emerick, executive director of the Secure ID Coalition.

Fraud undermines public faith in social safety nets.

New York State: Medicaid anti fraud bill would issue biometric ID cards

We spill a lot of pixels here highlighting the use of biometrics to combat fraud in the developing world. Here's an example from New York.

Palm identification would use cards in effort to cut $5 billion in illegal costs (Albany Times Union)

Palm-scanning devices and identification cards could become part of a doctor's appointment under proposed legislation that aims to crack down on Medicaid fraud.

The bill, introduced Wednesday by Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, D-Bronx, and Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst, would dish out Medicard cards equipped with biometric technology.

The bill's sponsors say the initial $20 million investment is a fraction of the estimated $5 billion in Medicaid fraud that occurs annually in the state. Medicaid is a medical care program for low-income residents.

People's willingness to support social programs is dependent on their being seen to address social problems rather than seen as enriching criminals.

$5 billion in fraud is a shocking figure.