HEALTH chiefs in the county are to crack down on patients who defraud the NHS by wrongly claiming entitlement to help or exemption from health charges.
In order to claim for free entitlement to services such as prescriptions or sight tests, applicants will have to confirm why they do not have to pay and provide proof that they do not have to pay.
This will apply to anyone making a claim at a phar
macy, surgery, opticians or hospital for help or free entitlement to NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and appliances, sight tests, glasses or contact lenses or other NHS items, such as wigs and fabric supports.
If no proof is available at the time the NHS and the Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust will make checks later and may ask again for proof. If it is subsequently discovered that exemptions have been wrongly claimed, a penalty charge will be payable.
The penalty charge is a civil fine and anyone who makes wrong claims for exemption from health costs must pay the charge as well as the amount owed for the incorrect claim, which could amount to £100. Non payment of a penalty charge will lead to a further surcharge of up to £50 and possible civil court action.
For more information on entitlement to help with NHS health costs, call the Help with Health Costs Advice Line on 0845 8501166 or pick up an HC11 leaflet from your local NHS hospital, doctor, pharmacy, dentist, optician or JobCentre Plus office.
Anyone suspecting a fraud of this nature should ring the confidential NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line on 0800 028 40 60, Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm.
