By Greg Dill
If you’re approached by someone who offers “free” genetic testing or cancer screening, turn them down.
Medicare doesn’t cover such tests unless a doctor who’s treating you orders them and they’re medically necessary.
Laboratory representatives have allegedly been taking swabs inside the mouths of Medicare beneficiaries at health fairs, senior centers, residential complexes for older people, and veterans’ centers.
Some seniors are getting cold calls about genetic testing kits. The caller usually offers to send a “free” genetic testing kit and asks only that you return the completed kit with your insurance information – including a Medicare number.
Beneficiaries’ numbers are then used to bill Medicare for thousands of dollars of medically unnecessary genetic testing.
More creative schemes involve sending invitations to an “ice cream social” where seniors hear a presentation about “no cost” genetic testing and/or cancer screenings. During the presentation, seniors are asked for their Medicare numbers – and Medicare is later billed thousands of dollars per test.
Seniors are also being asked for the Medicare numbers and other private information after being brought into health-fair booths for DNA swabs of their cheeks.
In some instances, seniors are given gift cards and told that Medicare will be billed for the tests, even though there’s no physician order for them.
Remember:
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, we want to hear from you. Please call us, toll-free, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
You can also report suspected fraud at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Or you can contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol, a terrific group which educates people with Medicare about how to avoid healthcare fraud and abuse.
You can reach Senior Medicare Patrol 1-877-808-2468, or visit https://www.smpresource.org.
One last tip: enter your phone number on the Do Not Call Registry https://www.donotcall.gov.
Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
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