COVID-19 Test Scam Hits Illinois as

Health Emergency Ends

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ended the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, on May 11, 2023. At home COVID-19 tests will no longer covered by Medicare as of last Thursday.

As the Public Health Emergency has come to an end, we have seen an increased number of calls regarding beneficiaries being sent and billed for at home COVID-19 tests that they did not order.

Scammers will sometimes call beneficiaries over the phone to confirm their Medicare number and personal information under the guise of sending "free" at home COVID-19 tests. Fraudsters are also stealing Medicare numbers and beneficiary information without talking to them and billing Medicare for these fraudulent tests.

We recommend reading your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and look for any charges that look suspicious from companies or doctors you do not know. If you have received any at home COVID-19 tests that you did not order, please call the Illinois SMP and report those charges.

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043 or visit www.illinoissmp.org.

The Illinois SMP is happy to announce that we will be hosting webinars online via Zoom Monday through Friday during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week!

Below are the topics and links for our webinars Monday through Friday of Medicare Fraud Prevention Week!

Learn how to read and understand your Medicare statements.

Monday, June 5, 2023- 10:00 am – 10:30 am hosted by Marina Silva

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88481196788

Tips on how to prevent Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023- 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm hosted by Jesus Enriquez

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89869746749

Current Fraud Trends in Illinois (DME, Fake Medicare Cards and Scam calls)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023- 10:00 am – 10:30 am hosted by Jesus Enriquez

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83760338352

How to Volunteer with the Illinois SMP

Thursday, June 8, 2023- 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm hosted by Marina Silva

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85603507745

Senior Medicare Patrol BINGO

Friday, June 9, 2023- 10:00 am – 10:30 am hosted Marina Silva

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86951281622

If you have any questions, please contact Travis Trumitch at (708)383-0258 or travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org.

*Please note that all webinars above are free.

May and June 2023 SMP Workshops

May 16, 2023, at 7:00 pm – Bilingual SMP Bingo

Bensenville Community Public Library (200 S. Church Rd. Bensenville, IL 60106)

May 17, 2023, at 10:00 am - SMP Bingo

Oak Park Senior Services (130 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302)

May 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo #2

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N. Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120)

May 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm - Leyden Township Community Health Fair

Bradley A. Stephens Community Center (2620 N. Mannheim Rd. Franklin Park, IL 60131)

May 23, 2023, at 10:00 am – South Chicago Heights Senior Fair

South Chicago Heights Senior Citizen (3140 Enterprise Park Ave. South Chicago Heights, IL 60411)

May 23, 2023, at 1:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Calumet City Public Library (660 Manistee Ave. Calumet City, IL 60409)

May 26, 2023, at 1:00 pm - SMP Presentation & Bingo

Hanover Township (240 S. Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)

May 26, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

The Barn (231 Civic Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60193)

May 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

May 31, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP BINGO

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church (1101 N. 23rd Ave. Melrose Park, IL 60160)

June 8, 2023, at 12:30 pm - Senior Market

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

June 9, 2023, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Park Place (414 S. Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085)

June 10, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP Bingo

Wheeling Township (1616 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004)

June 14, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP Bingo

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

June 15, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP Bingo

Arlington Heights Senior Center (1801 W. Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005)

June 20, 2023, at 12:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Wheeling Senior Meal Site (1 Community Blvd. Wheeling, IL 60090)

June 21, 2023, at 12:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N. Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

June 28, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Melrose Park Senior Meal Site (1101 N. 23rd Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160)

June 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.

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