The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new public-private initiative aimed at preventing healthcare fraud.

Under the new plan, insurance companies and providers will trade billing information with the federal government and state governments, all in an effort to spot fraud trends before any money actually changes hands.

The initiative is entirely voluntary, and public-private workgroups are currently developing a plan for operations, which will begin in the fall.

In a release last week, HHS stated that the partnership will allow private parties on the front lines to more easily share information with investigators and prosecutors.

The private groups that have agreed to join the partnership include Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Humana Inc., Travelers, and WellPoint Inc.