Recently, iSaaS Technology, an emergent technology company, has launched an app for the iPhone and compatible with the iPad that helps to cut down on medical fraud.
The innovative Cortex app records biometric evidence, in the form of a photograph taken by the medical expert when examining a patient. The app is a free accessory to the Cortex report writing software.
The website states that Cortex enables medical experts to produce high quality forensic reports using their chosen language. Reports are delivered to clients through secure SSL web servers.
Also, Corex is based on a template which allows medical expert to express their own words during the reporting process. Medical experts are able to deliver reports in both a written and XML format that is compatible with the valuation systems of leading insurers in their area.
The photograph that is generated from using the Cortex app is then automatically attached to the medical report and embedded with the date, time and a GPS stamp that documents who the patient is. This is all done through a secure cloud server.
Currently being deployed in England, this technology has implications for medical facilities in the US as well. While privacy concerns are different between the two countries, having another piece of evidence that ties a patient to their respective medical claims will help to reduce cases of medical fraud as well as help to cut down administrative waste–such as continual patient insurance verification.
iSaaS chief technology officer, Dr. David Pearce, explains, “Until now, doctors have had to accept credit card or photo ID driving licences as proof of identity – which they don’t often have the time or facility to photocopy to keep a permanent record. These currently accepted forms of proof of identity can also be easily manipulated for fraudulent purposes.”
According to the article, a 6 month trial run, insurance companies that received reports incorporating the new biometric identification of claimants confirmed that this app was an acceptable method of displaying proof of identity. Insurance expert Martin Ward from Green Circle Consulting commented on the usefulness of the app.
“We have questioned whether some claimants are defrauding the system by sending stand-ins to the medical interview in order to try and make fraudulent or over-exaggerated claims. Now that medical experts can capture photographic evidence of the individual being assessed via the Corex iPhone application, such cases will be exposed and act as a future deterrent to fraudsters”.
This app is also being heralded by Claimant lawyers who see it as an additional way to identify claimants. Kieran Magee a Partner at Gorman Hamilton Solicitors articulates this position.
“I am in favour of this application and can see it as a great practical tool to assist us in combating fraud. If the claimant refuses to have their photograph taken by the medical expert, I would have to question why? This would lead us to further scrutinise the case – and could result in us ceasing to act for that particular client. This will protect honest policy holders from the impact of fraudulent claims”.
Time will tell whether it is successful and whether it will be incorporated into the routine of a medical practice. The initial enthusiasm is very positive and there is already a case of the app being used to detect fraud. Dr Fotiadis, a medico-legal expert in London comments, “The new iPhone application takes me five seconds to use for each claimant and gives me a simple and reliable method of establishing the identification of the claimant and recording it in my report. It has already identified a case of incorrect identity.”
Source: NewsInsurance
