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Most
health care providers are honest and are providing the best care
they can, but the small number who aren't find ways to steal billions
of dollars from the health care system each year. Even more is lost
to errors in billing that are never found. Below you will find current
scams that are happening right here in Iowa.
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 IOWA SMP FEATURED ON IOWA PUBLIC RADIO MARCH 4, 2008 -- IPR’s “Talk at 12” show on March 4, 2008 featured UNI faculty, Dr. Michele Yehieli and Dr. Mark Grey, who direct the Iowa Center on Health Disparities. The Center receives some funding from Iowa SMP. They described the need to protect your personally identifiable information (for instance, don’t carry your Social Security and Medicare cards with you) and the importance of detecting healthcare fraud and errors by carefully reviewing your Medicare Summary Notices.
Two major concerns discussed by them and callers to the program were the growth of organized crime involvement in healthcare fraud and the use of Social Security numbers on Medicare cards. Fake “storefronts” are created by organized crime, appearing to be clinics, pharmacies or medical equipment suppliers. They obtain Medicare numbers either by stealing or buying from scammers, or by calling to convince beneficiaries to give their number in order to receive services. Then they submit fake Medicare claims to receive payment. Regarding Social Security numbers on Medicare cards, the law requires the use of Social Security numbers currently, but there is legislation pending in Congress to require Medicare to use an alternate indentifying number.
Posted: 03/04/2008
CANADIAN JAIL SCAM REPORTED IN MINNESOTA: Scammers work to obtain information about seniors, including the names and ages of grandchildren, prior to calling the victim. When they call, they identify themselves as one of the victim's grandchildren, with the story that they've been arrested in Canada, due to lying to a customs agent about goods purchased while in Canada. They ask for a large amount of money to pay their fine, in order to return home safely. There are verified victims who wired money. Minnesota law enforcement is investigating.
Posted: 02/18/2008
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN INSURANCE AGENT VISITS:
A Des Moines woman had an upsetting experience with two salespersons who came to her door unsolicited. They called her two weeks before the visit, asking to see her and she refused. They arrived at her door, led her to believe they were from Medicare/Medicaid and said they must talk with her about her insurance. After they entered her home, she endured an aggressive sales pitch, asked them to leave several times and finally demanded they leave, at which time they did. The next day they phoned her to ask again for her to consider their product. She did obtain their business card and the Iowa Insurance Division has been contacted.
Posted: 02/18/2008
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