Reporting Fraud, Waste and Abuse
Care1st Health Plan Arizona is serious about finding and reporting times that Arizona Medicaid funds are used in the wrong way. This is called waste, fraud or abuse.
Fraud means to knowingly get benefits or payments that you are not entitled to receive. Please let us know if you are aware of someone who is committing fraud. This could be a provider or a member. Some examples of health care fraud include:
- A lie on an application
- Using someone else's ID card
- A provider (doctor) billing for services that were not done
- Transportation (usage abuse)
Waste is the overuse of services that may result in costs not needed for health care benefits. This includes direct costs and indirect costs. Waste usually results from the misuse of services.
Abuse can include actions that may result in unnecessary costs not needed for health care benefits. This includes direct costs and indirect costs. Abuse involves payment for items or services when there is no legal reason for to pay for them.
Absolutely anyone can report fraud, waste, or abuse. There are no restrictions.
You can contact AHCCCS or your Health Plan to report Provider or Member Fraud as follows:
- AHCCCS - 888-ITS-NOT-OK (888-487-6686)
- Care1st - 1-866-560-4042 (TTY/TDY: 711)
- You can email AHCCCS at AHCCCSFraud@azahcccs.gov
- You can email your health plan at AZFWA@centene.com
You may also report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse to AHCCCS via one of the following methods:
- Online Website: Report Member, Provider, or Contractor Suspected Fraud or Abuse of the Program https://azahcccs.gov/Fraud/ReportFraud/
- Telephonically (Provider Fraud):
- In Arizona: 602-417-4045;
- or outside of Arizona: 888-ITS-NOT-OK or 888-487-6686.
- Telephonically (Member Fraud):
- In Arizona: 602-417-4193;
- or outside of Arizona: 888-ITS-NOT-OK or 888-487-6686.
To report waste, abuse, or fraud, gather as much information as possible.
When reporting about a provider (a doctor, dentist, counselor, etc.) include:
- Name, address, and phone number of provider
- Name and address of the facility (hospital, nursing home, home health agency, etc.)
- Medicaid number of the provider and facility, if you have it
- Type of provider (doctor, dentist, therapist, pharmacist, etc.)
- Names and phone numbers of other witnesses who can help in the investigation
- Dates of events
- Summary of what happened
When reporting about someone who gets benefits, include:
- The person’s name
- The person’s date of birth, Social Security Number, or case number if you have it
- The city where the person lives
- Specific details about the waste, abuse, or fraud