Bad actors have been using the increased demand for vaccinations, COVID-19 testing, and telemedicine as cover for identity theft and fraudulent billing, according to CMS. Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse are looked into by the Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services. Each month, on average, its fraud hotline received close to 9,000 calls. We have mentioned ways below to avoid Medicare fraud and Abuse.
5 Ways to avoid Medicare fraud and Abuse
Watch out for bogus Medicare plans
You can be the target of scammers offering you fake Medicare plans, goods, benefits, and services. Obtaining your Medicare number is the main goal. To confirm any plan you are thinking about, get in touch with the provider directly or utilise the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. If it isn’t there, it could not be real.
Beware “free” health care services or products
If someone requests your Medicare information in return for free medical treatments or merchandise, just ignore them and walk away. They don’t need to know about your insurance if it’s free. Another trick to obtain your Medicare number may be involved here. (Remember that if you decide to join up for a Medicare supplement insurance plan, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medicare prescription medication plan, a reputable insurance agent or company representative will want your Medicare number.)
Avoid deceptive door-to-door salespeople
A door-to-door salesman offering medical goods or information should not be trusted. Also keep in mind that neither Medicare nor Medicaid sends salespeople to people’s homes to solicit business. Additionally, unless you specifically request it, insurance representatives may not visit your house.
Scour your Medicare statements
You receive claims summary statements from Medicare or your private insurance company outlining the medical services you have received. Study them thoroughly. It’s critical to confirm that you received all the advertised services and goods. Please report anything you believe to be a mistake.
Kickbacks, Taking Money for Patient Referrals
we will pat your back as you pat mine. Practitioners referring patients to each other in exchange for cash or gifts is another odious practise. Not only might this hinder you from getting the finest treatment, but it also frequently results in recommendations for procedures, tests, or services that you don’t even require! Because the perpetrators of this scam skillfully disguise payments as presents, vacations, etc., it might be challenging to catch them.
Final Words
We hope like our article on how To Avoid Medicare Fraud and Abuse. Medicare and Medicaid fraud are illegitimate methods used to get disproportionately large payments from government-funded healthcare programmes. Fraud is the intentional use of deception to obtain something unlawfully or unethically at the expense of another, in this example, to get something illegally at the expense of publicly funded healthcare services.
