Skårderud acknowledges overpayment errors in Norwegian healthcare system

A sum related to overpayments made for refunds between 2014 and 2023 has come to light. Finn Skårderud stated in a communication that he acknowledges the repayment decision and admits that the documentation for his practices has been inadequate. However, he emphasizes that the errors were not intentional or for personal gain. He is now working on settling the owed amount and has no further comments on the matter.

Helfo’s assessment indicates that Skårderud did not provide necessary referrals for any of the 108 patients whose claims were examined. Without proper documentation, reimbursement cannot be requested. The agency also noted that he had conflated his work at Villa Sult—a private foundation he established—with his psychiatric practice, leading to concerns over the mixing of these roles.

The Norwegian health reimbursement system relies heavily on trust, with Helfo assuming that healthcare professionals submit accurate claims. Claims must include the date and time of treatment. Automated checks are conducted upon submission to mitigate errors. If there are suspicions of wrongful payments, Helfo can initiate subsequent investigations based on the perceived risk of inaccuracies. Following these checks, healthcare providers might be required to adjust their billing practices or refund amounts received from the state. Serious violations can result in the revocation of the right to bill the welfare agency for up to five years, and cases involving suspected financial crimes may lead to police involvement.

Earlier this year, Skårderud accepted a fine of 25,000 NOK for fraudulent billing. He has been a prominent physician and psychiatrist in Norway for decades but lost his medical license last Christmas due to multiple complaints from former patients.