HONOLULU — Senior Medicare Patrol Hawaii, a program of the state’s Executive Office on Aging, invites the public to learn about Medicare fraud during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, June 3 to 9.
SMP Hawaii is offering a free webinar via Zoom, 10 to 11 a.m. June 8 that will focus on Medicare fraud, the latest scams and how to volunteer with SMP Hawaii.
To register for the webinar, call 1-800-296-9422, email info@smphawaii.org or submit a request through the SMP Hawaii website.
According to the Executive Office on Aging, Medicare loses approximately $60 billion each year to false claims.
“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on older adults as well as the Medicare program,” said SMP Hawaii Director Norma Kop in a news release. “We teach kūpuna how to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. Our counselors help individuals who suspect that their Medicare number has been lost or stolen and used to file false claims.”
People can get a free “My Health Care Tracker” booklet from SMP that can help track medical services before paying. The booklet can help individuals log doctor visits, lab tests, X-rays, hospital stays, prescription drugs, supplies and other health services, then use it to cross check billing statements for accuracy.
The booklet can also help ensure individuals pay for services or supplies ordered by the doctor that were received. It can also help people find out if someone has stolen their Medicare number and is sending claims to Medicare for services or supplies using their identity and Medicare number.
“During this special week, we’re excited to inform our community on how to detect Medicare fraud as well as the other services we offer,” Kop said. “It takes our entire state to protect kūpuna, as Hawaii continues to lead the nation in average life expectancy. Being proactive and volunteering with SMP builds a stronger safety net of support for our loved ones and kupuna, who are most vulnerable and need to protect their identity, assets, and legacy.”
The EOA says everyone plays a role in the fight against fraud:
• Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to ensure products and services received match what they are being billed before they pay.
• Caregivers should notice items such as knee braces or other durable medical equipment which was sent to the beneficiary without a doctor’s prescription. Remind loved ones to never give out their Medicare number or personal information.
• Families can talk to loved ones about protecting their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. Create a Medicare.gov account to access Medicare statements online or review the mailed statement. Also, register the phone number for loved ones on the “do not call” directory and stop mailings through optoutprescreen.com.
• Partners and professionals can share prevention tips with clients and request a free SMP Hawaii presentation.
• Health care providers can speak to patients about health care-related scams such as “durable medical equipment” and genetic testing schemes. Remind them that products and services should only be ordered by their physician. Never order items through unsolicited calls.
• The community can help look out for elder neighbors and friends too. Encourage people to get Medicare answers through a trusted source and spread the word about scams. People can also volunteer with SMP Hawaii.
Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.