Oklahoma Medicare Assistance Program Leads Consumer Education During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week

OKLAHOMA CITY – Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion per year. It costs Medicare beneficiaries in time, stress, their medical identities, and potentially their health. The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s (OID) Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) is raising awareness of fraud and teaching consumers how to prevent it.

“Medicare fraud has a devastating impact on both beneficiaries and the Medicare program,” Director of the MAP division Ray Walker said. “We teach people how to avoid experiencing Medicare fraud. By preventing fraud from happening, this program helps individuals and protects the Medicare program for generations to come.”

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones by joining MAP, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and their partners for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, observed this year June 1–5. Medicare Fraud Prevention Week is held annually during the week containing June 5 (6/5), symbolizing the age when most Americans become eligible for Medicare.

Everyone plays a part in the fight against fraud. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:

• Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements.
• Families and caregivers can help by being on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment (like boxes of knee braces) lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval. They can remind their client or loved one to protect their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number. They can help their loved ones create a Medicare.gov account to access their Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review them when they come in the mail. They can also register their phone number on “do not call” lists and go to optoutprescreen.com to opt out of mailings.
• Partners can help by sharing SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to the SMP, and inviting the SMP to speak during a shared event.
• Health care professionals can help by talking to patients about health care-related scams, such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind them that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see. Needed medical items should never be ordered through TV ads or unsolicited calls.
• Community members can help by looking out for older neighbors. When in public, they can be aware of older individuals purchasing gift cards in large amounts. They can encourage those they know to talk to a trusted source about their Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams. They can even consider volunteering with the local SMP!

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. It also provides information and educational presentations.

To raise awareness, MAP will host a special episode of the Medicare Mondays webinar on June 1 focused on fraud prevention. You can register for the webinar at map.oid.ok.gov.

If you have questions about other insurance issues, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 800-522-0071 or visit our website at oid.ok.gov.

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