WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: COVID-19 Testing Kit Fraud Alert!
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public concerning fraud schemes involving unsolicited COVID-19 testing kits.
Medicare loses approximately 60-90 billion dollars a year because of fraudulent billing claims, although the actual numbers are difficult to estimate. In recent months, seniors from across the country have been receiving unexpected packages in the mail. They are COVID-19 testing kits that are arriving completely unsolicited! When Medicare beneficiaries later check their Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), it reveals that Medicare is being billed for reimbursement of these unwanted COVID-19 testing kits.
Since Medicare will no longer pay for in-home COVID-19 tests after May 11, some unscrupulous companies may be trying to cash in while they still can. No legitimate providers are going to send out unsolicited kits. Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is the national federal program that empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries and their families to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. If you know of a friend or family member who has received these supposed “free” testing kits, please report to the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at your local Area Agency on Aging in Connecticut, by calling 1-800-994-9422. Medicare needs to know the names of the companies that are sending out unsolicited COVID-19 testing kits … sometimes by the dozen! One Indiana beneficiary received 32 unrequested tests over a 10-day period, even though no one recalled ever having given out their Medicare number! Once targeted, a person may be vulnerable to future scams. Stolen Medicare numbers can be used repeatedly to obtain payments of all kinds or sold to other hucksters.
Remember … never, ever respond to unsolicited links, text messages, emails, or telephone calls that request private, personal health, or financial information such as your legal name, address, or contact information. These are imposter scammers who are trying to steal money from you as an individual or as a taxpayer. Watch for signs that someone has stolen your medical identity by carefully reading your benefit statements. Alert SMP if you know of someone on Medicare who recently received unordered surprise COVID-19 testing kits in the mail. Senior Medicare Patrol relies on you … and a team of volunteers who are the “eyes and ears” in their community, to assist with SMP counseling and education. If you suspect a scammer is attempting to steal medical identities, or to confuse seniors into giving out private confidential information, please report these activities to Senior Medicare Patrol in Connecticut by calling 1-800-994-9422.
This article was written by Audrey Cole, Senior Medicare Patrol. Program Coordinator at the Western CT Area Agency on Aging.
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