These new tips and information can help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries
deter, detect and defend against Medical identity theft.
Medical
identity theft occurs when someone steals a patient's personal
information, such as his or her name and Medicare number, and uses the
information to obtain medical care, to buy drugs or supplies, or to
fraudulently bill Medicare using that patient's stolen identity.
"When
criminals steal from Medicare, they are stealing from all of us," said Secretary Sebelius. "Preventing medical identify
theft is an important part of our work to stop Medicare fraud, and
these tools will give seniors important information about how to deter,
detect and defend against ID theft and fraud."
The Department of
Justice (DOJ), in collaboration with the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), will continue to protect the integrity
of the nation's public health programs and vigorously pursue those who
seek to take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens.
"Medical
identity theft can disrupt your life, damage your credit rating, and
threaten your health if inaccurate information ends up in your medical
records," added HHS Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson.
OIG's agents frequently uncover fraud schemes that involve the sale
and use of stolen Medicare identification numbers.
- Medicare beneficiaries are reminded to beware of offers of free medical
equipment, services, or goods in exchange for their Medicare numbers.
- Beneficiaries are also encouraged to regularly review their Medicare
Summary Notices, Explanations of Benefits statements, and medical bills
for suspicious charges and to report suspected problems.
The
effort to help prevent medical identity theft is one part of the Obama
Administration's work to crack down on Medicare fraud. In May, Attorney
General Eric Holder and Secretary Sebelius announced the creation of a
new interagency effort, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and
Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), to combat Medicare fraud.
Teams
that have been successfully fighting fraud in South Florida, Los
Angeles, Detroit and Houston.
Established in 2007, these teams have a proven record of success using
data analysis techniques and community policing to identify,
investigate and prosecute on-going fraud.
The Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has undertaken other steps to
fight fraud and protect beneficiaries who buy durable medical equipment
or rely on home health services.
- On October 1, all durable medical
equipment suppliers across the nation, except for pharmacies, must be
certified by Medicare, a requirement that assures beneficiaries that
their suppliers are valid businesses and meet Medicare's financial and
quality standards.
Senior Medicare Patrol programs
The SMP
programs are funded by HHS' Administration on Aging and help Medicare
and Medicaid beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report health care
fraud. Because this work often requires face-to-face contact to be most
effective, SMPs nationwide recruit and train nearly 5,000 volunteers
every year to help in this effort. Most SMP volunteers are both retired
and Medicare beneficiaries and thus well-positioned to assist their
peers.
To learn more about stopping Medicare fraud, visit www.StopMedicareFraud.gov.
To report suspected Medicare fraud call the Inspector General's
toll-free Hotline at 800-447-8477 (800-HHS-TIPS). The toll-free TTY
number is 800-377-4950.