Medicare Fraud Prevention Week
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week
Everyone Can Prevent Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse cost people money, time, and well-being. The TARCOG Senior Medicare Patrol, which is part of the Alabama Senior Medicare Patrol, of the Alabama Department of Senior Services, wants to empower the community to learn how to prevent Medicare fraud from happening.
The entire first week of June is recognized as Medicare Fraud Prevention Week. TARCOG used social media posts on its Facebook and Instagram feeds to share information each day about ways to safeguard against fraud.
Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. It costs Medicare beneficiaries time, stress, medical identities, and health. It costs families, friends, and caregivers worry and lost work when helping their loved ones recover from falling victim to Medicare fraud.
“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on both beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” said Department of Senior Services Commissioner Jean Brown. “Alabama Senior Medicare Patrol teaches people how to avoid experiencing Medicare fraud. By preventing fraud from happening, AL SMP helps individuals and protects the Medicare program for generations to come.”
Everyone plays a part in the fight against fraud. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:
- Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure the products and services received match what is on the statements. They can request free My Health Care Trackers from AL SMP.
- Caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment (like boxes of knee braces) lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to never give out their Medicare number or other personal information over the phone.
- Families can help by talking to their loved ones about protecting their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. They can help their loved ones create a Medicare.gov account to access their Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review the statements when they come in the mail. They can also register their phone number on “do not call” lists and go to optoutprescreen.com to opt out of mailings.
- Partners and professionals can help by sharing AL SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to AL SMP, and inviting AL SMP to speak at events.
- Health care providers can help by talking to patients about healthcare-related scams such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind patients that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see. Needed medical items should never be ordered through TV ads or unsolicited calls.
- Community members can help by looking out for older neighbors. When in public, they can be aware of older individuals purchasing gift cards in large amounts. They can encourage those they know to talk to a trusted source about their Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams they know of. They can also consider volunteering with AL SMP.
Senior Medicare Patrol is ready to provide information to PROTECT individuals from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT concerns. The program can help with questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. It also provides information and educational presentations.
Contact TARCOG’s Senior Medicare Patrol at 256-830-0818 or the state SMP may be reached at 1-800-243-5463.
A new cookbook is in the works by the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) and all 12 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) throughout the state aiming to showcase delicious recipes from each county.
