Senior Medicare Patrols (SMPs) empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. Click the above to see info about the latest scams – such as the nationwide brace scam.
Here’s some additional info from Barb W: “A new potential scam to be aware of is that genetic testing company reps, or possibly insurance agents working on behalf of these companies, may ask Medicare clients to participate in a beneficiary event. Nationally, Medicare beneficiaries report they’ve been billed for genetic testing or cancer screenings performed at community events and senior centers. We highly recommend you decline these type of requests due to the potential for fraud. Here are some good tips to follow:
- Do not give out your Medicare number or Social Security number. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for your Medicare or Social Security numbers. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.
- Do not consent to any lab tests at senior centers, health fairs, or in your home. Be suspicious of anyone claiming that genetic tests and cancer screenings are at no cost to you.
- Genetic tests and cancer screenings must be medically necessary and your doctor must order them to be covered by Medicare. Random genetic testing and cancer screenings are not covered by Medicare. If you’re interested in the test, talk to your doctor.
- Monitor your Medicare Summary Notice to see if there are any services you didn’t have or didn’t want but were billed for. Medicare Summary Notices are sent every three months if you get any services or medical supplies during that three-month period.
SHIBA is Washington state’s Senior Medicare Patrol project. We can help clients prevent, detect and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. If you have questions or suspect fraud or abuse, call 1-800-562-6900 and ask to speak with SHIBA.