Medical identity theft is a crime with two victims: the patient and the hospital.

In an effort to protect patient identification and health insurance information, McLaren-Central Michigan will be requiring patients to provide a driver's license or other proof of identity when services are provided. Patients may also be asked to validate a request to change a billing address or to provide identification before personal information is released.

What is medical identity theft?
According to the World Privacy Forum, medical identity theft occurs when someone uses a person's name, and sometimes other parts of their identity, to obtain medical services or goods or uses the person's identity information to make false claims for medical services or goods.

How do you know if you have been a victim of medical identity theft?

• You receive a bill for care you did not have.
• You receive a bill with the wrong name on it.
• You see wrong information in your medical record.
• Your health insurance company tells you that you have used all of your benefits and you have not received health care services related to those benefits.
• Your pharmacy tells you that drugs have been dispensed in your name that you do not use.

For more information, or to report a medical identity theft, call the McLaren-Central Michigan Privacy Officer at (989) 772-6896.