Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion each year. But the impact goes far beyond dollars. Here in the Valley, Medicare fraud costs beneficiaries valuable time, peace of mind, their medical identities, and potentially even their health. It also takes a toll on families, friends, and caregivers, who often face worry, stress, and lost work time while helping loved ones recover from the effects of fraud.
“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on both beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” said Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) State Director Shawn Smith. “We teach people how to avoid experiencing Medicare fraud. By preventing fraud from happening, this program helps individuals and protects the Medicare program for generations to come.”
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week is observed during the week of June 5, or 6/5, because most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. During this week, SMP encourages Medicare beneficiaries, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community members to work together to prevent fraud and protect personal information.
Everyone plays a part in the fight against fraud. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:
• Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements.
• Families and caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment lying around the house that may h ave b een s hipped t o the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to protect 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 them 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.
• Health care professionals can help by talking to patients about health carerelated scams such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind them 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.
For local Medicare support and to learn more about SMP, call Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) at (540) 460-2744 or visit vpas.info/medicare-consultation.
