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September 24. 2012 8:31PM
Raymond Hurd, right, of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaks while seated with fellow panelists Christie Hager, left, and Susan Waddell at a seminar for senior citizens on how to fight Medicare fraud at the Cashin Senior Center in Manchester on Monday. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)
Seniors get tips to prevent Medicare fraud
Raymond Hurd, right, of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, speaks while seated with fellow panelists Christie Hager, left, and Susan Waddell at a seminar for senior citizens on how to fight Medicare fraud at the Cashin Senior Center in Manchester on Monday. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)
MANCHESTER — Seniors can help the federal government crack down on health care fraud by keeping a close eye on their Medicare insurance numbers and reading over their medical bills to ensure there are no billing mistakes, federal officials told seniors Monday.
About two dozen seniors gathered Monday at the William B. Cashin Senior Activity Center to listen to a panel of experts talk about fraud in the federal health insurance system that costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Susan Waddell, special agent in charge in the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, said in years before the Affordable Health Care Act was passed in March 2010, it was pretty easy for criminals to defraud Medicare.
Since then, nearly $11 billion has been recovered, according to Christie Hager, director of Region One, New England, of the Department of Health and Human Services in Boston.
The $11 billion, however, represents only a fraction of the fraud in the system, Waddell said.
Waddell said investigators are getting better at detecting fraud and for every dollar invested in her agency, investigations have brought $7 back to the government. “It's a great investment,” she said.
But like the drug war, when investigators clamp down on one type of fraud, as it did on a durable equipment scam in Miami, the criminals just move to something else, which in Florida was running scams in the home health industry by exploiting loopholes.
“They're very creative,” she said.
According to Waddell, some drug dealers have switched to selling prescription drugs instead of heroin because it is easier to get medications.
Raymond Hurd, acting regional administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medical Services in Boston, said health care fraud includes claims filed for services that were never provided or for durable medical equipment that was never delivered. Sometimes, doctors charge for wrong services intentionally but it is often a mistake, he said.
The officials told the seniors they should keep their Medicare numbers safe and never give them out over the telephone. They should also carefully read the Medicare summary of medical services they receive to ensure they received the services listed.
Never give out a Medicare number out over the phone, they warned, or to anyone offering a free service.
“If it's really free, you don't need to give out your Medicare number,” Waddell said.
She said it is always a good idea to go through your physician for any medical service you may need.
No one should feel ashamed if he or she mistakenly gave out a Medicare number. Instead, Hager said, focus on who to contact about it. Medicare fraud may be reported by calling toll-free 1-800-HHS-TIPS, 1-800-Medicare, or through the state's Health and Human Services website at servicelink.org.
Help with Medicare issues is available at a Medicare workshop held on the third Monday of every month at the Cashin Senior Activity Center.
A certified Medicare specialist or volunteer provides free and confidential health insurance counseling, assistance in applying for cost-saving programs to reduce Medicare expenses, and help in applying for the most cost-effective Medicare prescription drug plan based on individual needs or information on the upcoming open enrollment for supplemental insurance plans.
pgrossmith@unionleader.com
About two dozen seniors gathered Monday at the William B. Cashin Senior Activity Center to listen to a panel of experts talk about fraud in the federal health insurance system that costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Susan Waddell, special agent in charge in the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, said in years before the Affordable Health Care Act was passed in March 2010, it was pretty easy for criminals to defraud Medicare.
Since then, nearly $11 billion has been recovered, according to Christie Hager, director of Region One, New England, of the Department of Health and Human Services in Boston.
The $11 billion, however, represents only a fraction of the fraud in the system, Waddell said.
Waddell said investigators are getting better at detecting fraud and for every dollar invested in her agency, investigations have brought $7 back to the government. “It's a great investment,” she said.
But like the drug war, when investigators clamp down on one type of fraud, as it did on a durable equipment scam in Miami, the criminals just move to something else, which in Florida was running scams in the home health industry by exploiting loopholes.
“They're very creative,” she said.
According to Waddell, some drug dealers have switched to selling prescription drugs instead of heroin because it is easier to get medications.
Raymond Hurd, acting regional administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medical Services in Boston, said health care fraud includes claims filed for services that were never provided or for durable medical equipment that was never delivered. Sometimes, doctors charge for wrong services intentionally but it is often a mistake, he said.
The officials told the seniors they should keep their Medicare numbers safe and never give them out over the telephone. They should also carefully read the Medicare summary of medical services they receive to ensure they received the services listed.
Never give out a Medicare number out over the phone, they warned, or to anyone offering a free service.
“If it's really free, you don't need to give out your Medicare number,” Waddell said.
She said it is always a good idea to go through your physician for any medical service you may need.
No one should feel ashamed if he or she mistakenly gave out a Medicare number. Instead, Hager said, focus on who to contact about it. Medicare fraud may be reported by calling toll-free 1-800-HHS-TIPS, 1-800-Medicare, or through the state's Health and Human Services website at servicelink.org.
Help with Medicare issues is available at a Medicare workshop held on the third Monday of every month at the Cashin Senior Activity Center.
A certified Medicare specialist or volunteer provides free and confidential health insurance counseling, assistance in applying for cost-saving programs to reduce Medicare expenses, and help in applying for the most cost-effective Medicare prescription drug plan based on individual needs or information on the upcoming open enrollment for supplemental insurance plans.
pgrossmith@unionleader.com
