JCH&L Encourages Reporting Receiving Unordered COVID Tests

JCH&L is receiving reports about some area Medicare recipients receiving COVID tests by mail which they did not order or request. JCH&L recommends reporting this to Medicare, as it could be a sign of fraudulent use of the person’s Medicare number.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General states that scammers are sending COVID-19 home test kits to Medicare beneficiaries and then billing Medicare for reimbursement. The OIG recommends reporting such instances to Medicare. People with Medicare or private Medicare Advantage plans who receive medical supplies they didn’t order can contact the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center at 1-877-808-2468.

Being targeted once can mean a Medicare recipient is a target for future scams, so it is very important to report anything that is a red flag. It is always important for Medicare recipients to check their Explanation of Benefits documents (which are provided quarterly by mail.) If a recipient is billed anything he or she did not receive it should be reported – including tests, medical supplies, procedures, etc. If Medicare has paid for an item once, beneficiaries may not be able to get it when they really need it – regardless of whether they actually received it.

The OIG states that if you suspect COVID-19 health care fraud, report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/