The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide), a 54-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs and well-being of more than 3.6 million seniors, unveiled the Medicare Fraud of the Month for July: Telehealth Fraud.
StateWide Fraud of the Month is a component of Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the definitive resource for New York State seniors and caregivers to detect, prevent and report health care fraud, errors and abuse. StateWide is the New York grantee/administrator for this Federal Program.
María Álvarez, CEO of StateWide, explains: “Telehealth allows you to receive medical care by phone or video instead of an in-person visit. It is a valuable Medicare benefit when medically necessary and approved by your provider.”
Signs of telehealth fraud:
– Seniors receive never-requested remote monitoring equipment.
– A provider offers “free” monthly telemedicine that is not requested or needed.
– Medicare claims for Chronic Care Management (CCM) are listed as telehealth services.
– Medicare is billed monthly for services that were not recognized or were not medically necessary
How seniors can protect themselves against these scams:
– Only use telehealth recommended by your doctor.
– Read the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and Explanation of Benefits (EOB) carefully for signs of fraud.
– Never share your Medicare numbers or other personal information with unexpected callers.
– Report services never received to the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).
Help line available
“Remember, if someone offers ‘free’ telehealth services or medical equipment in exchange for your Medicare number, it’s a red flag for fraud.”
“The New York State Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) should be reported! Call our helpline! Contact the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 800-333-4374 or visit www.nysenior.org. “We have trained advisors who help Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against Medicare fraud,” concluded Álvarez.
StateWide also provides educational information and presentations, assistance regarding any Medicare questions, plan comparisons, appeals, billing issues, and patient rights to all seniors throughout New York State.
Medicare fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $60 billion annually nationwide. To help combat this illicit industry, StateWide announced its Fraud of the Month program in 2022 to highlight these scams committed against the state’s seniors.
