Health Care Fraud: Physicians as

White collar crimes are characterized by “deceit, con-cealment, or violation of trust and are not dependent upon the application or threat of physical force or violence. Such acts are committed by individuals and organizations to obtain personal or business advan-tage ” (Ref. 1, p 3). Health care fraud is a form of white collar crime that may be committed by health care providers, consumers, companies providing medical supplies or services, and health care organi-zations. There is a trend toward increased participa-tion by organized crime groups in complex health care fraud schemes.2 There are many different types of illegal and unethical schemes that constitute health care fraud. The common types of fraud com-mitted by physicians include billing for services tha