A Florissant, IL foot doctor with a practice in East St. Louis, IL, appeared in federal court on April 7, 2023, and pleaded guilty to health care fraud. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois said Howard Jackson, 69, admitted that from January 2016 to December 2020, he billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures he never performed.

Dr. Jackson was a podiatrist with a practice in East St. Louis, Illinois. Between January 2016 and December 2020, he engaged in a health care fraud scheme by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid for “nail avulsions” he did not perform.

A “nail avulsion” is a surgical procedure that involves the separation and removal of all or part of a toenail from the tip of the nail back to the base of the nail. The procedure typically requires the use of anesthesia to avoid causing extreme discomfort to the patient.

Jackson said he never used anesthesia and only provided routine foot care, such as trimming or clipping toenails. Prosecutors said Jackson’s scheme cost Medicare and Medicaid at least $144,694. Jackson will be sentenced on July 27. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

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

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.

Seniors got COVID tests they didn't order in Medicare scam. Could more fraud follow?

On May 18, 2023, NPR published an article about how Medicare coverage for at-home COVID-19 tests ended earlier this month, but the scams spawned by the temporary pandemic benefit could have lingering consequences for seniors.

Medicare advocates around the country who track fraud noticed an eleventh-hour rise in complaints from beneficiaries who received tests – sometimes by the dozen – that they never requested. It's a signal that someone may have been using, and could continue to use, seniors' Medicare information to improperly bill the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General has received complaints from around the country about unsolicited tests being billed to Medicare, said a top investigator. Earlier this year, the office posted a fraud warning on its website, urging consumers to report this and other covid-related scams.

"Unfortunately, most of these schemes are the result of bad actors receiving stolen Medicare beneficiary information," Scott Lampert, assistant inspector general for investigations, tells KFF Health News.

You can read the whole article from NPR here.

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential COVID-19 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 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)

We will be taking our annual summer vacation from our bi-weekly Fraud Alerts.

We will return on July 11, 2023!

Have a wonderful June and July 4th Holiday!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org