Home Health & Hospice Week

Keep tabs on how the HHS Office of Inspector General is dealing with COVID-19 issues on its new portal at https://oig.hhs.gov/coronavirus.The webpage has “up to date information about our operations, contact information, and COVID-related work,” the OIG says.

For example: “Scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information,” the OIG says.“However, the services are unapproved and illegitimate.”

Tell your patients: “Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries in a number of ways, including telemar­keting calls, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits,” the OIG warns.“The personal information collected can be used to fraudulently bill Federal health care programs and commit medical identity theft. If Medicare or Medicaid denies the claim for an unapproved test, the beneficiary could be responsible for the cost.”

Plus: “If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes,” the OIG adds.

You can report suspected COVID-19 fraud on the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.