Area Agency on Aging Helps Combat Medicare Fraud

Every year, Medicare loses over billion to waste, fraud, and abuse. That adds up to a staggering .8 million every single hour, but our organization is trying to help. TARCOG, the Area Agency on Aging, and the Senior Medicare Patrol program are working hard to protect Alabama’s seniors from the growing problem of healthcare fraud.

Volunteers are critical to the success of this Medicare Fraud Program. It is so important to speak out and assist in educating our communities. There are several important points that need to be made to the public to prevent Medicare fraud:

1. Protect your Medicare number and never give out personal information over the phone. Agencies like Medicare and Social Security do not call needing information that they already have.
2. In order to detect any errors, keep good records of the healthcare visits and always compare them with the Medicare Summary Notices and Part D Explanation of Benefits.
3. Be leery of anyone offering FREE supplies or services in exchange for anyone’s Medicare number.

If you want to know more about Medicare Fraud, please call Lynn Hixon at the DeKalb County Council on Aging at 256-845-8590.