New York Seniors Warned of Rising Telehealth Medicare Scams
With Medicare fraud costing taxpayers over $60 billion annually, the New York StateWide Senior Action Council has officially flagged telehealth schemes as its July priority. The organization is urging the state’s 3.6 million seniors to exercise extreme caution when approached with offers for unsolicited remote medical services or monitoring equipment.
Maria Alvarez, executive director of the non-profit, emphasizes that while telehealth serves as a legitimate tool for remote consultations, it has become a primary vector for exploitation. Scammers often target beneficiaries by offering "free" checkups or unrequested equipment, subsequently billing Medicare for services that were neither necessary nor performed.
To identify these illicit claims, beneficiaries should scrutinize their Medicare Summary Notices and Explanations of Benefits. Warning signs include charges for Chronic Care Management listed as telehealth, or the arrival of medical hardware that the patient never requested. The Senior Medicare Patrol advises seniors to never share their Medicare numbers with unexpected callers and to verify any remote service directly with their primary physician. Those who suspect they have been targeted should contact the Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374 or report the incident through the organization's website.
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