Illinois SMP Program Fraud Alerts

 

The Illinois SMP Program sends email Fraud Alerts every Friday. These alerts contain fraud-related news articles, information about current scams in Illinois or other parts of the United States, and useful healthcare or fraud-related resources. If you would like to be added to the Illinois SMP Fraud Alert email list, please contact:

Erin Weir, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator

Phone: (800)699-9043, (708)383-0258

TTY: (708)524-1653

Fax: (708)524-0870

erin.weir@ageoptions.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Illinois SMP Fraud Alert - June 11, 2010

Dear SMP readers,

Today’s Fraud Alert contains information about a new federal government campaign to stop Medicare scams, particularly with regard to health reform, a warning about ruse burglaries, and information about the National Medicare Training Program in Chicago in July.

Have a great weekend!


Sincerely,

Erin Weir, MSW, LSW, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator

AgeOptions

1048 Lake Street, Suite 300

Oak Park, IL 60301

phone (708)383-0258 fax (708)524-0870

erin.weir@ageoptions.org

ageoptions.org

====================

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you have any questions about the Illinois SMP program, or to receive these Fraud Alerts directly, please contact Erin Weir, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator at AgeOptions.

What you will find in this week’s Fraud Alert

• Obama Administration Warns Seniors About Health Care Scams
• Ruse Burglaries in Cook County Suburbs
• CMS Medicare Training Workshop in Chicago July 21-23
• Fraud in the News

Obama Administration Warns Seniors About Health Care Scams

President Obama, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder are working together with the state Attorneys General, state Departments of Insurance, SHIP programs, and SMP programs to get the word out about health reform scams. You can see the recent press releases about their efforts at http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/.

As part of this campaign, the Department of Health and Human Services will be issuing a Public Service Announcement and holding events to discuss the $250 checks that will be mailed to Medicare beneficiaries who reach the “donut hole” in 2010. These announcements will include warnings about scams related to the distribution of these checks.  Here is a recent press release from the Illinois Department of Insurance to this effect: https://www.insurance.illinois.gov/newsrls/2010/ HCDoughnutHoleCheckScams052710.pdf

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has also issued a warning as part of this campaign: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/the-problem-solver/2010/06/attorney-general-madigan-warns-seniors-of-medicare-fraud.html

Some of the health reform scams that various SMP programs have reported are also being tracked here: www.healthreform.gov/fraud.html

Secretary Sebelius will be in Chicago Tuesday, June 15 to do an event on this topic. The Illinois SMP program will be represented at this event, and we will be sure to include information from it in next week’s Fraud Alert.

Ruse Burglaries in Cook County Suburbs

Several Cook County police departments have issued reports about ruse entry burglaries that have been occurring in the last couple of weeks. People have been posing as water district employees, roof installers, someone from the local village spraying for mosquitos, and someone in need of a “bucket of water.” All of these are attempts to distract the resident while the person enters their home and steals their belongings. With summer upon us, these kinds of crimes will likely continue to increase – please beware!

CMS Medicare Training Workshop in Chicago July 21-23

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be hosting their annual National Medicare Training program in Chicago July 21-23, 2010. Please see the attached document for information about this training. Space is limited, so anyone who wishes to attend must register per the instructions on the flyer.

====================

Fraud In The News

The following are current news articles about health care and fraud issues.

1. Police Beat from Centralia, IL mentions prescription drug fraud: http://www.wjbdradio.com/index.php?f=news_single&id=22040
   
   
2. “Should You Not Donate by Text Message?”: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/01/ AR2010060102788.html?wpisrc=nl_tech
   
   
3. “AARP Scam Alert: Time Share Trickery”: http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-06-2010/ scam_alert_time_share_trickery.html?cmp=NLC-RSS-DAILY-BULLETIN

=======

Fraud Alerts contain information about current scams taking place in Illinois, announcements and updates about programs or services related to health care and/or fraud protection, and links to news articles about health care and fraud topics. Please forward any recommendations or announcements that you would like to be included in a future Fraud Alert to erin.weir@ageoptions.org.

AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging of Suburban Cook County, is committed to improving the quality of life and maintaining the dignity of older adults and those who care about them – through leadership and support, community partnerships, comprehensive services, accurate information and powerful advocacy.

====================

Confidentiality notice: This email and any files or attachments transmitted with it are confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. This email is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom this email is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, or distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by email and delete this email from your system.