The New York Statewide Senior Action Council (Action Council for the elderly of the State of New York) known as Statewide, a 53 -year -old non -profit organization dedicated to meet the needs and well -being of the approximately 2.5 million older people in our state, announced its “Medicare fraud of the month for August”: Medicare fraud in palliative care.
The fraud of the month according to Statewide is a component of the Medicare patrol for the elderly (SMP), the definitive resource for older adults and caregivers of the state of New York detecting, preventing and denouncing frauds, errors and abuses in medical care. Statewide is the assignee and administrator of this federal program in New York.
Palliative care are part of a care and support program for people with terminal diseases. The program focuses on comfort and quality of life instead of healing diseases. Attention examples include medical services, relief care, medicines and durable medical equipment for pain management.
Maria Alvarez, executive director of Statewide, advises the elderly to be careful with the possible scams related to the care of palliative care. «The scammers focus on older adults and offer free kitchen or cleaning services, help or home equipment and false home medical visits.
“But behind the offer, they are enrolling in palliative care without their knowledge and are charging Medicare for services that he did not need or received,” he added.
The scammers are contacted by:
– Door to the door visits
– Undipated telephone calls
– Text messages and emails
– False advertising
Alvarez advises the elderly to know the warning signals of palliative care fraud and learn how to protect against this:
– Remember: only a doctor can certify a patient to receive palliative care (with a life expectancy of 6 months or less).
– Medicare never covers free services such as cleaning service.
– Never accept gifts in exchange for services.
– Always check the summary notices of Medicare (MSN) or the explanation of benefits (EOB) to verify if there are positions for unauthorized services.
The Medicare Patrol
Medicare patrol for older people from the state of New York can help all older adults with questions, concerns or complaints about fraud in nursing homes, abuse and problems in the quality of care. Your certified advisors are available to help. Call 800-333-4374.
«We have trained advisors who help inform Medicare’s beneficiaries in the fight against fraud in medical care. To denounce fraud, errors or abuse of Medicare, you can call our aid against Medicare fraud of the New York State to 800-333-4374 or visit www.nysenior.org«, Alvarez concluded.
It should be resolved that Statewide also provides educational information and presentations, assistance regarding any Medicare question, comparisons of plans, appeals, billing problems and patient rights to all older people throughout the state of New York.
It is estimated that the fraud to Medicare costs taxpayers more than $ 60,000 million a year throughout the country. To help fight this illicit industry, in 2022, Statewide announced its fraud program of the month with the purpose of making these scams that affect the elderly at the state level.
