Don't Fall for "Free" Genetic Testing Scams

As first reported in 2019, scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information for fraudulent billing purposes or possibly medical identity theft. Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that was not medically necessary and/or was not ordered by a beneficiary’s treating physician.

You should report this type of fraud if:

A company offers you “free” or “at no cost to you” testing without a treating physician’s order and then bills Medicare.
A company uses “telemedicine” to offer testing to you over the phone and arranges for an unrelated physician or “teledoc” to order the test
You see on your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB):
Charges (usually thousands of dollars) for a broad range of genetic tests that you did not request or possibly even receive
Charges for pharmacogenomic tests (to determine how you metabolize drugs) for drugs that do not apply to you
A company requests your Medicare number (or possibly driver’s license) at health fairs, senior centers, assisted living facilities, malls, farmers markets, parking lots outside retail stores, home shows, or church-sponsored wellness events.

The Illinois SMP is 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.

Please visit www.illinoissmp.org to download all of our tip sheets to help prevent Medicare fraud.

Department of Justice Charges Multiple People for $1.2 Billion in Healthcare Fraud

The Department of Justice announced last month, criminal charges against 36 defendants in 13 federal districts across the United States for more than $1.2 billion in alleged fraudulent telemedicine, cardiovascular and cancer genetic testing, and durable medical equipment (DME) schemes.

The federal investigations primarily targeted alleged schemes involving the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes by laboratory owners and operators in exchange for the referral of patients by medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine and digital medical technology companies. This includes cardiovascular and cancer genetic testing that was not a method of diagnosing whether an individual presently had a cardiac or cancerous condition and was not approved by Medicare for use as a general screening test for indicating an increased risk of developing cardiovascular or cancer conditions in the future.

You can read the whole press release from the Department of Justice here.

If you or someone you know has a been a victim of potential Medicare Fraud, please call the Illinois SMP Hotline at (800)699-9043.

August and September 2022 Workshops*

August 16th 11:00 am - Types of Medicare Fraud and BINGO

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

August 18th 1:00 pm – Farmers Market in Harvey, IL

Christian Family Health Center (31 W 155th St. Harvey, IL 60426)

August 20th 9:00 am – Senior Expo

Palos Heights Recreation Department (6601 W 127^th St, Palos Heights, IL 60463)

August 23rd 9:00 am – Senior Expo

Drury Lane Theatre (100 Drury Ln, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181)

August 24th 9:00 am – Senior Expo

CORE Fitness Center (16050 W 127^TH St, Lemont, IL)

August 29th 11:00 am – Introduction to Medicare Fraud and BINGO

Riverdale Public Library (208 W 144^th St, Riverdale, IL 60827)

August 30th 2:00 pm – Introduction to Medicare Fraud and BINGO

Morton Public Library (6140 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053)

August 31st 9:00 am – Senior Expo

Triphahn Community Center (1685 W Higgins Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169)

September 7th 12:00 pm – Play Bingo with SMP!

Village of McCook (5000 Glencoe, Ave McCook, IL 60525)

September 8th 11:00 am – Senior Health Fair

Hanover Township Aging Services (240S II Route 59, Bartlett, IL 60103)

September 13th 2:00 pm – Types of Medicare Fraud

Morton Grove Public Library (6140 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053)

September 15th 1:00 pm – Farmers Market in Harvey, IL

Christian Family Health Center (31 W 155^th St, Harvey, IL 60426)

September 20th 11:00 am – Introduction to Medicare Fraud with BINGO

Hanover Township Aging Services (240 S II Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)

September 22nd 11:00 am – Introduction to Medicare Fraud with BINGO

Worth Public Library District (6917 W 111^th St, Worth, IL 60482)

September 23rd 9:00 am – Stickney Township Senior Fair

Township of Stickney Senior Center (7745 Leamington Ave, Burbank, IL 60459)

September 27th 11:00 am – Types of Medicare Fraud with BINGO

Riverdale Public Library (208 W 144^th St, Riverdale, IL 60827)

September 29th 11:00 am – Types of Medicare Fraud with BINGO

Park Forest Public Library (400 Lakewood Blvd, Park Forest, IL 60466)

*Please note that all events are in person

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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