site.btaHealth Insurance Fund Starts Probing Nursing Homes for Suspected Fraud

National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Governor Petko Stefanovski has ordered urgent probes into suspected health insurance fraud at nursing homes in Yagoda, Varna and Govedartsi, the NHIF press office reported on Tuesday. The inspectors will examine documented and paid medical activities, medical products, including expensive cures, and aids for the elderly patients.

Unlicensed nursing homes have been uncovered in Yagoda, Stara Zagora Region and in the seaside city of Varna over the last few days. Government ministers and news media have reported awful conditions and cruel and degrading treatment of residents in such establishments, which have become popularly known as “horror homes.” A hospice in Govedartsi, Sofia Region was also inspected.

The NHIF said it is working with the Executive Agency for Medical Supervision to collect personal information about the nursing home residents who have been moved out by the government. The NHIF has asked the Information Services company to provide data from the National Health Information System, entered there by doctors and pharmacists who have documented services and medicines provided to the elderly people in those nursing homes.

The Fund will make public the results of its probes and will refer any evidence of crime to the competent investigative authorities.