3,800+ Bulgarian hospitalized patients gambled at casinos

• A suspected healthcare fraud has been unearthed in Bulgaria, with 3,890 patients visiting casinos while registered as hospital patients
• Uncovered by the country’s tax watchdog, the case has been referred to the National Health Insurance Fund
• The NHIF is already investigating and would involve more authorities if it deems it necessary

The National Revenue Agency (NRA) of Bulgaria has detected close to 4,000 false hospitalizations, after the NRA discovered that patients, who were supposed to be undergoing treatment at hospitals, were in fact frequenting casinos.

Thousands visited casinos in Bulgaria while supposedly staying at hospitals for treatment

The report has raised questions over whether clinical paths were not bogus and only assigned to willing patients to syphon money off from the country’s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The NHIF has already stated that it is investigating the 3,890 patients who were supposed to be staying at hospitals but had submitted gambling information, following a tip from the NRA.

The NHIF has said that if its investigation discovers further irregularities, it would turn to and involve other competent watchdogs and law enforcement as the need arises.

The institution has already said that it would demand refunds for any treatments that were fictional. The patients in question had visited casinos over 22,000 times during the survey period, the NRA has concluded.

Image credit: Unsplash.com