What can be classified as fraud and abuse in healthcare?

Providing unnecessary services to patients is classified as fraud and abuse in healthcare because it involves delivering medical interventions or treatments that are not clinically justified. This practice can lead to significant financial consequences for both patients and insurance providers, as it can result in overbilling and misuse of healthcare resources. Additionally, it undermines the integrity of the healthcare system and can harm patients by exposing them to unnecessary risks and procedures.

In contrast, accurate billing of services rendered reflects ethical practices, as it ensures that healthcare providers are only compensated for services that were genuinely provided to patients. Similarly, following patient treatment plans is a standard of care that emphasizes the importance of adhering to established medical protocols and guidelines for each patient's condition. Collecting patient feedback for service improvement is also a best practice in healthcare, as it fosters a patient-centered approach and aims to enhance the quality of care. Therefore, only the provision of unnecessary services is clearly associated with fraudulent and abusive behavior in the context of healthcare.