The research editors of RTL Nieuws discovered last year hundreds of dubious healthcare companies through the whole country. There are suspicions of fraud, self-enrichment and other criminal practices.
–
–
According to the Court of Audit, there is also no shortage of signs of fraud, but too little is being done to demonstrate and subsequently punish healthcare fraud. “There are many legal options, but insufficient use is made of them,” says Ewout Irrgang of the Court of Audit.
–
–
What does the Court of Audit do?
The Court of Audit investigates whether the central government is handling public money properly. It is one of the most important bodies that monitor the costs and benefits of policy.
–
–
Pakkans nihil
There are hardly any convictions. And even with a criminal record or dubious healthcare history, it is quite easy to start a new healthcare company, according to examples that RTL Nieuws discovered.
For example, an entrepreneur who was previously convicted of illegal trade in fireworks and who played a role in investment fraud set up a healthcare agency in Enschede. An unusually high profit for healthcare is now being made there and generous amounts are going to the directors.
Billions in the wrong pockets
A lot of health care money goes into the wrong pockets. “There are estimates from other research that it can easily be several billion euros per year,” says Irrgang.
The new cabinet has therefore made tackling healthcare fraud a priority in the coalition agreement. There has also been much discussion in previous cabinets about tackling these problems. But the Court of Audit has now established that it has mainly remained at that meeting.
–
–
“There is a paper reality and there is practice”, clarifies Irrgang. “We actually see with the strongest signs of fraud that this approach does not lead to fraudsters being stopped or even hindered. That is of course worrying, because a lot of public money is involved in health care. But also because vulnerable people are victims there. And it’s also just worrying that people who break laws and are punishable are not being prosecuted.”
Many parties are involved in tackling healthcare fraud. Think of municipalities, health insurers, inspectorates, the judiciary and the ministry. Those parties do not always work well together, which means that things are left behind.
8 notifications, 0 actions
As in the case of Sonja Veltman. She told RTL Nieuws to have been treated as a slave on a care farm in Drenthe, who received substantial amounts of care money for her every month. Veltman called at least seven authorities and reported the matter to the police, but none of the parties took any action. Ultimately, after a protracted battle, the judge decided that the care director should still be prosecuted for exploitation.
–
–
According to the Court of Auditors, it is not an incident. The approach does not work. Nobody takes control and the parties point to each other, so that concrete action is not taken. “In any case, it is the minister’s task to ensure that there is an effective approach to fraud in healthcare. And our research shows that this does not work in practice.”
The Court of Audit also advises the Ministers Kuipers (Public Health, Welfare and Sport) and Helder (Long-term Care and Sport) to better monitor the deployment and performance of inspections.
Minister: ‘Action needed’
In response to the report of the Court of Audit, Minister Conny Helder of Long-term Care and Sport said that he also found the results worrisome. According to the minister, the conclusions make it clear that action is needed.
–
–
