stopmedicarefraud.gov

October 29, 2009 by theo.johnson
Filed under: Blog Entries, Family, Health, Legal

During a talk radio show on health care, I learned about a joint U.S. Department of Health and Department of Justice website that educates the public on Medicare fraud. In order to help pay for for health care reform, President Obama mentioned the need to find better ways to be efficient and this is one of those ways. According to the website, eliminating fraud will cut costs for families, businesses and the federal budget and increase the quality of services for those who need care. Below, I’ve listed some ways you can identify fraud and not become a victim. For more information and contact information to report a potential fraud case, visit stopmedicarefraud.gov.

Be suspicious of doctors, health care providers, or suppliers that tell you the following:

The equipment or service is free; it won’t cost you anything, and they only need your Medicare number for their records
Medicare wants you to have the item or service
They know how to get Medicare to pay for the item or service
The more tests they provide, the cheaper the tests become

Be suspicious of doctors or plans that do the following:

Don’t charge copayments without checking on your ability to pay
Advertise “free” consultations to people with Medicare
Claim they represent Medicare or a branch of the Federal government
Use pressure or scare tactics to sell you high-priced medical services or diagnostic tests
Bill Medicare for services you didn’t get
Use telephone calls and door-to-door selling as marketing tools
Offer non-medical transportation or housekeeping as Medicare?approved services
Put the wrong diagnosis on the claim so that Medicare will pay
Bill home health services for patients who aren’t confined to their home, or for Medicare patients who still drive a car
Bill Medicare for medical equipment for people in nursing homes
Ask you to contact your doctor and ask for a service or supplies that you don’t need
Bill Medicare for tests you received as a hospital inpatient or within 72 hours of admission or discharge
Bill Medicare for a power wheelchair or scooter when you don’t meet Medicare’s qualifications

Watch Out For These Common Fraud Schemes:

People who approach you in parking lots, shopping centers, or other public areas and offer free services, groceries, transportation, or other items in exchange for your Medicare number. Just walk away!
People who call you claiming to be conducting a health survey and ask for your Medicare number. Simply hang up the phone
Telephone marketers who pretend to be from Medicare or Social Security and ask for payment over the phone or Internet. Don’t do it! They may want to steal your money.