HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioner Ron Hirst made comments at the County Commission meeting this morning that those who are watching the finances of relatives that are Medicare recipients might take a closer look of late.
He told the commission and those in attendance about unsolicited COVID tests and other medical equipment charged to the accounts of recipients who didn't ask for them.
If you see a charge on your itemized list that is sent to you, that you know you didn't incur, the State of Kansas has a program called Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol that can help.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, address it immediately by taking these steps:
Rule out error-If you have questions about information on your or your loved one's Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB), call the provider or plan and ask for an explanation.
Get help from your SMP-If you are not comfortable calling the provider or plan or if you are not satisfied with their response, your local SMP can help you identify and report fraud schemes and deceptive health care practices, such as illegal marketing or billing for services that were never provided. They can also refer complaints of potential fraud and abuse to the appropriate entity, who can intervene.
There are several people you can contact
You can contact local law enforcement, call 1-800-Medicare or report directly to the OIG Hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477)
When reporting fraud, have the following information available:
Your name as listed on your Medicare card
Medicare number
Name of the provider
Date of service
Description of the concern or problem
If you have further questions, you can call Kansas SMP at 800-432-3535.
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