Skip Navigation

Link to HHS Link to HHS
  Home |  FAQs |  Screen Reader Version |  Español  |  Mailing List
 
Medicare.gov site Flag Logo
    The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare

MyMedicare.gov   Opens in a new window - Click this padlock image to see more information about MyMedicare.gov security
Secure Sign In
This is an optional and free service
learn more | sign up

Prescription Drug Plan

NEW! Medicare & You 2009

Am I Eligible?

Medicare Billing 

Medicare Appeals 

Long-Term Care 

Plan Choices 

Preventive Services 

Personal Health Records 

Address Change

Replacement Card

Medicaid Enrollment

Provider Information

Ombudsman 

Emergency

Glossary

Privacy Practices

Medicare Online Forms

Search Tools



Link to Department of Health and Human Services Website
Start Content

Medicare Fraud

Overview

Most Medicare payment errors are simple mistakes and are not the result of physicians, providers, or suppliers trying to take advantage of the Medicare system. If you have a question or concern regarding a Medicare claim submitted on your behalf, you should discuss it directly with your physician, provider, or supplier that provided the service.

The vast majority of physicians, providers, and suppliers who serve people with Medicare are committed to providing high quality care to their patients and to billing the program only for the payments they have earned.

However, there are a few individuals who are intent on abusing or defrauding Medicare, cheating the program (and in some cases the people with Medicare who are liable for co-payments) out of millions of dollars annually. Medicare fraud takes a lot of money every year from the Medicare program. People with Medicare pay for it with higher premiums. This section of the website is dedicated to helping you to help Medicare to avoid making inappropriate payments to fraudulent entities.

Medicare is taking strong action to combat fraud and abuse of the system in key areas. Our goal is to make sure Medicare only does business with physicians, providers, and suppliers who will provide people with Medicare with high quality services.

The effort to prevent and detect fraud is a cooperative one that involves:

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

  • People with Medicare

  • Providers of Medicare services including physicians, providers, and suppliers

  • State and Federal Agencies such as, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Justice.

The following summaries describe what information can be found here. To view any section that is of interest to you, please select any of the links below.

Fraud Detection/Prevention Tips: Offers beneficiaries useful hints on how to detect fraud. Additionally, tips on preventing fraud are also offered.

How to Report Fraud: Lists, step by step, what you need to do in order to report any suspected act of fraud.

Fraud Publications: Links you to the site's Publications Page. You will be taken directly to the section containing Fraud related publications.

Printable-Version Printable-Version
E-mail This Page E-mail This Page
Overview

Fraud Detection / Prevention Tips

How to Report Fraud and Abuse

Fraud and Abuse Publications

Page Last Updated: March 27, 2008

 

 
Frequently Asked Questions | Contact Us |  Website Privacy | Website Policies
Freedom of Information Act | USA.gov
52
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services