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Hospital probes use of insurance card by 2 men
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
jgoodwin@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
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Union officials at Forum Health are relieved by the announcement by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. that it will pay the pensions of some of the hospital system’s 7,000 retirees and future retirees.
Representatives of an area hospital are trying to determine how two men with different descriptions received thousands of dollars in medical services using the same medical-insurance card.
According to police reports, a man presenting himself as Ronald Hicks went to Forum Health Northside Medical Center on Gypsy Lane for a surgical procedure that would require a four-day stay in the hospital.
The procedure was performed, and Hicks left the hospital after presenting his CareWorks medical card for payment.
The total cost of services rendered to Hicks is about $50,000.
Hospital personnel became concerned when a short time later, another man claiming to be Hicks appeared at the hospital seeking treatment using the same CareWorks card.
According to police reports, Hicks is supposed to be 24. The doctor who performed surgery on the first man claiming to be Hicks said the patient did not appear to be 24 but much older.
Both men claiming to be Hicks are 6 feet tall, but the second man is more than 30 pounds heavier than the first. Both men provided a Belden Street address but different emergency contact people.
Police reports said the hospital began investigating the situation and realized the first man claiming to be Hicks is not the Ronald Hicks who was issued the CareWorks card for medical treatment. Officials have not determined who the man is.
A call to Forum Health’s legal representative was not returned Tuesday afternoon.
A hospital representative told police a decision on whether to pursue criminal charges or a civil lawsuit will come from someone higher in the hospital structure.
Police said it appears the two men in question are related. They said one person appears to have used the card provided to the other for medical treatment.
No arrests had been made as of late Tuesday, and no criminal charges had been filed.