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Be Informed, Be Aware, Be Involved brochure

Fight Medicare/Medicaid Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Be Informed Billions of dollars are lost each year to Medicare/Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse. The Medicare and Medicaid programs provide security for you and your family. You want to ensure that these health insurance programs will have the money to operate and to provide good, quality health care for you and future generations. Although the vast majority of providers are honest, the activities of the remaining few result in wasted funds for the Medicare and Medicaid programs and a loss of quality of care for yourself. Be Aware Here are some ways to take an activerole in protecting your health care: • Review Medicare Summary Notice for errors • Confirm services/supplies were received • Confirm services/supplies were necessary If you identify or suspect waste, fraud, and/or abuse, call your provider and describe the problem. If you're not satisfied with the response you get or if you are not comfortable calling your provider directly, call your local Senior Medicare Patrol project. The number is located on the back of this brochure. Be Involved Volunteers are critical to the success of this effort. Since 1993, billions of dollars in health care savings have been realized due to government and volunteer efforts of people like you. You can help make a difference in your community by actively participating in your local Senior Medicare Patrol project. Volunteer activities include: • Giving presentations • Answering incoming phone calls • Helping beneficiaries review their Medicare Summary Notices What to look for: • You are billed for a service that you have not received • You are asked to provide your Medicare/Medicaid number when a service or supply is advertised as   "free" • You continue to receive medical supplies when they are no longer necessary • You do not receive necessary medical supplies/treatments ordered (i.e. prescription for sixty pills   only contains forty) This information is provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging, which is partnering with other government agencies, the organization listed below, and thousands of older Americans in a national effort to combat and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.