Awards Spotlight
This annual webinar will highlight the newest NHCAA Award, Specialty Benefits Investigation of the Year, which recognizes the substantial health care antifraud contributions by NHCAA Member Organization specialty benefit plans’ investigation units. While not all investigations lead to criminal or civil prosecution, they can result in significant policy or procedural changes that should be recognized. These changes may positively impact the effectiveness and efficiency of specialty benefit plans operations which, in turn, may improve the delivery of benefits to their clients.
In this webinar, the awardees of the 2022 Specialty Benefits Investigation of the Year will break down the investigative steps and results of their case. Blue Shield of California’s Special Investigations Unit began their investigation in February 2020 upon receiving information that Eargo Hearing, Inc., a hearing aid company, was using unlicensed individuals to provide medical consultation services and was giving medically unnecessary hearing aids to members and their beneficiaries who were enrolled in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program/Federal Employee Program (FEBHBP/FEP).
Related schemes were uncovered by the United States Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations. Approximately $48 million was billed by Eargo between January 2017 and February 2022 for which they received reimbursement of $33.5 million. A civil action was filed by the Department of Justice under the False Claims Act, and in April 2022, Eargo agreed to pay $34.7 million to settle the case.
Faculty
Lawrence Gard
Special Agent, United States Office of Personnel Management
Consultant, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Jonnie Massey, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I, CPMA, AHFI
Senior Director, SIU | Blue Shield of California
Registration Information
REGISTRATION RATES
| NHCAA Member1 | Government2 | Non-Member3 |
| $175 | $175 | $250 |
REGISTRATION POLICIES
Registration closes at 3:00 PM ET the day before the webinar.Cancellation/Substitution
All cancellations (regardless of date) will be assessed with at $100 administrative fee. All written notice of cancellations and substitutions should be sent via email to training@nhcaa.org. Cancellations must be received in writing 24 hours in advance of the webinar in order to receive any refund.Complaints
For more information regarding administrative policies such as refunds, cancellations and complaints, please email training@nhcaa.org.Details & Frequently Asked Questions
Webinar programs are most appropriate for beginning and mid-career analysts, investigators, consultants, and law enforcement agents working in the health care anti-fraud industry.
As a level II, or intermediate program, some investigative / health care / coding expertise is assumed. Training content is focused on the detection and investigative processes, using case examples to highlight strategy and techniques.
There are no pre-requisite requirements to attend webinar programs.
Participants earn 1.5 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours applicable to the training requirements for the Accredited Health Care Fraud Investigator (AHFI®) designation.
The NHCAA Institute is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
NASBA Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge & Applications
View our updated FAQ webpage to see if your webinar question has already been answered. If not, email the education team at programs@nhcaa.org.
