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Fast-growing medical identity theft has lethal consequences; crime affects 200,000 victims a year, feds say.

Article Excerpt
From a Boston psychiatrist who submitted false bills to insurance companies, marring the medical records of several patients, to a Florida woman who found an impostor had led a hospital to record a false blood type causing a potentially fatal error, experts say medical identity theft is becoming more pervasive.

The San Diego County district attorney's office and nonprofit groups that have done extensive studies on the issue say it is underreported and difficult to detect. Federal reports say there are at least 200,000 medical identity fraud victims each year.

Like elsewhere, it's difficult to gauge its penetration in San Diego. But some local hospitals have taken preventive measures, acknowledging the risk.

One way medical identity thieves work is by using a stolen or fake ID to obtain medical services. Using another's name with a false billing address could mean that neither the thief nor the victim ever sees the bill, experts say.

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