Friday, February 21, 2014
Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you have any questions about the Illinois SMP program, or to receive these Fraud Alerts directly, please contact Jason Echols, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator at AgeOptions.
This document was supported in part by a grant (No. 90MP0163 & 90SP0061) from the Administration on Aging (AoA), Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Grantees carrying out projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Therefore, points of view or opinions do not necessarily represent official AoA, ACL, or DHHS policy.
Fraud In The News
The following are current news articles about health care and fraud issues.
Consumer Fraud:
1. “There’s a New ID Theft Victim Every 2 Seconds” (AARP): http://blog.aarp.org/2014/02/07/theres-a-new-id-theft-victim-every-2-seconds/
2. “Fake Funeral Notice Can Be Deadly - For Your Computer” (FTC): http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/fake-funeral-notice-can-be-deadly-your-computer
3. “‘One-Ring’ Cell Phone Scam Can Ding Your Wallet” (FTC): http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/one-ring-cell-phone-scam-can-ding-your-wallet
4. “Random Text Message? No Real Prize Is Waiting For You” (FTC): http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/random-text-message-no-real-prize-waiting-you /
Dear SMP readers,
This week’s Fraud Alert contains a report about undelivered MSNs, three fraud cases in Illinois, and tips about health care credit cards.
Have a great weekend!
What you will find in this week’s Fraud Alert
· Millions of MSNs are Undeliverable: Are You Getting Yours?
· 3 Illinois Fraud Cases: An Arrest, an Indictment, and a Guilty Plea
· Health Care Credit Cards: Know the Facts
Millions of MSNs are Undeliverable: Are You Getting Yours?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report that over 4 million Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) were undeliverable to Medicare beneficiaries in 2012. The most common reason why MSNs were undeliverable is because of incorrect or invalid beneficiary addresses. You can read the full report here: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-03-12-00600.asp.
This OIG report identifies MSNs as an important fraud fighting tool, but it is useless if beneficiaries either do not receive or do not read it. If you or someone you know is not getting your MSN, here is what you can do:
1. Be sure your address is correct with Social Security. Medicare pulls your address information from Social Security, so updating your address with Social Security will update your address with Medicare. You can update your address with Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213.
2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to request a past MSN be mailed to you. They can also help correct your mailing address.
3. Visit MyMedicare.gov and login to your personal account to view past MSNs and current claims. If you are not receiving your MSN in the mail or if you want to claims earlier, this website is available for all Medicare beneficiaries.
And if you do get your MSN but do not read it, it is not useful. Check out the SMP How to Read an MSN tip sheet at http://www.ageoptions.org/documents/HowToReadMSNJune2013.pdf
3 Illinois Fraud Cases: An Arrest, an Indictment, and a Guilty Plea
Here are three recent news items about how law enforcement is working across Illinois to address health care fraud:
· A physician in suburban Cook County was arrested for allegedly dispensing oxycodone illegally to a undercover agent and falsely billing Medicare for services not provided. Read the full press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2014/pr0220_01.html
· In an update to a story we featured in the last Fraud Alert, a Rockford, IL physician has been indicted on health care fraud charges. Read the FBI press release, which has more details on this indictment, here: http://www.fbi.gov/chicago/press-releases/2014/local-physician-indicted-on-charges-of-health-care-fraud
· A doctor in Alton, IL pled guilty to fifteen counts of an indictment which charged health care fraud against the Illinois Medicaid program and illegal distribution of controlled substances. Read the full DOJ press release here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/ils/News/2014/Feb/02142014_Bhuthimethee%20Press%20Release.html
Health Care Credit Cards: Know the Facts
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently posted an article titled “What’s the Deal with Health Care Credit Cards? Four Things You Should Know,” which you can read here: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/whats-the-deal-with-health-care-credit-cards-four-things-you-should-know/
Health care credit cards can be a useful tool for some consumers in paying their medical bills. However, it is very important that consumers understand how these credit cards work and what their responsibilities are for paying these charges.
Jason B. Echols, MSW, Health Care Consumer Protection Coordinator
AgeOptions
1048 Lake Street, Suite 300
Oak Park, IL 60301
phone (708)383-0258 fax (708)524-0870
ageoptions.org
AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging of Suburban Cook County, is committed to improving the quality of life and maintaining the dignity of older adults and those who care about them – through leadership and support, community partnerships, comprehensive services, accurate information and powerful advocacy.
Fraud Alerts contain information about current scams taking place in Illinois, announcements and updates about programs or services related to health care and/or fraud protection, and links to news articles about health care and fraud topics. Please forward any recommendations or announcements that you would like to be included in a future Fraud Alert to .