Health care fraud and abuse: new weapons, new penalties, and new fears for providers created by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA")

Abstract

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 may well be the most significant increase ever in the federal government's health care fraud and abuse enforcement authority. This new authority coupled with increased scrutiny of the health care industry generally creates a compelling incentive for health care facilities to develop corporate compliance programs.