A recent crackdown by law enforcement, on a nationwide level, has resulted in charges being leveled against 91  people-including doctors and other medical professionals-with defrauding the Medicare system of over 295$ million in false billing.

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Jeff Hinson, Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services joined us this morning to talk about this case and what we can do to help curb fraud.

Medicare fraud affects everyone. You can team up with Medicare to help.

Here are some things you can do:

• Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers. Treat them like you would treat your credit cards.

• Hang up the phone if someone calls and asks for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank or credit card information. We will NEVER call and ask for this information, and we will NEVER call you or come to your home uninvited to sell Medicare products.

• Be suspicious of anyone who offers you free medical equipment or services and then requests your Medicare number. It’s illegal, and it’s not worth it!

• Do not let anyone borrow or pay you to use your Medicare ID card or your identity.

• Check your Medicare claims for errors. Look at your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or statements from your Medicare plan. You can also check www.MyMedicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) as soon as your claims have been processed. The sooner you see and report errors, the sooner they can stop fraud.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report any suspected fraud. TTY users should call
1-877-486-2048.

There are also Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers who are teaching people like you how to spot, report, and stop fraud, and protect themselves from identity theft. In Wyoming call 1-800-856-4398 or contact them by clicking here.

Medicare is cracking down on fraud, and so can you.

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