Everyday healthcare providers make hundreds of calls to their patients. They might be appointment reminders, return calls to answer questions or a myriad of other topics. But scam callers are taking advantage of the trust your patients have by spoofing your number.
Before, there wasn’t any recourse when and if your number was used by illegitimate callers, but now you can fight back against these violations. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announce that hospitals and other private entities that contact consumers will have access to an online portal where they can report suspected robocall and caller ID violations to the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.
How did this happen?
The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act was signed into law in late 2019. With the act, Congress gave the FCC new tools to fight unwanted, and often illegal, robocalls. While this was a step in the right direction, there has been consistent updates that allow the FCC to make changes, helping those that make legitimate calls.
With that, the TRACED Act directs the FCC to establish regulations to create a process that “streamlines the ways in which a private entity may voluntarily share with the Commission information relating to” a call or text message that violates prohibitions regarding robocalls or spoofing. This is set forth in Section 227(b) and 227(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
In June 2021, the FCC created an online portal located on the commission’s website that allows private entities to submit information about robocall and spoofing violations. The new FCC portal allows entities – like hospitals – to alert agency investigators of concerning incidents, including robocalls, that have been known to impact hospital phone lines.
What is a Private Entity?
According to the FCC, “A private entity is any entity other than an individual natural person.” The FCC portal is not intended for individual consumers as they already have a way to submit robocall or spoofing complains via the commission’s informal complaint process.
How Will it Work?
The new online FCC portal will collect information from private organizations that file, including contact information and details about the robocalls. Enforcement Bureau staff may pursue investigations and work with a variety of partners, such as the Traceback Consortium, federal/state, and the consumer affairs team to provide consumer protection support.
Conclusion
It’s important that legitimate calls from healthcare providers should not be blocked, so this is a step in the right direction. While this online FCC portal will help private entities report and mitigate these issues, the FCC will continue to work towards ensuring the consumers and patients are receiving the right calls. Americollect will continue to follow developments from the FCC and work closely with Early Out and Bad Debt Collections clients on all levels. Find out how Americollect can help you by contacting us today!
Ridiculously Nice Legal Disclaimer
The content provided in this communication (“Content”) is presented for educational and general reference purposes only. Americollect, Inc and/or AmeriEBO LLC either directly or indirectly through speakers, independent contractors, or employees (collectively referred to as “Americollect”) is providing this Content as a courtesy to be used for informational purposes only. The Contents are not intended to serve as legal or other advice. Americollect does not represent or warrant that the Content is accurate, complete, or current for any specific or particular purpose or application. This information is not intended to be a full and exhaustive explanation of the law in any area, nor should it be used to replace the advice of your own legal counsel. By using the Content in any way, whether or not authorized, the user assumes all risk and hereby releases Americollect from any liability associated with the Content.