What does "healthcare fraud" refer to?

Healthcare fraud refers to wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain in the healthcare sector. This can include various deceptive practices such as billing for services not provided, misrepresenting the services rendered, or employing false information to secure healthcare benefits or payments.

This definition underscores the intentional nature of healthcare fraud, which distinguishes it from errors or oversights that may occur in billing or record-keeping. Unintentional billing errors, as mentioned in another choice, do not constitute fraud since they lack the deliberate intent to deceive. Additionally, while competitor sabotage or withholding medical information can be unethical or illegal, these actions do not fall under the definition of healthcare fraud, which specifically involves deceptive practices aimed at financial or personal gain. Understanding this distinction is crucial in addressing and preventing fraud within the healthcare system.