· Never give your Medicare or Medicaid numbers over the telephone to people you do not know.
· Never let anyone convince you to contact your doctor to request a service you do not need.
· Never let anyone look at your medical records or prescription medications without your doctor's approval.
· Do not accept free medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or walkers. Only your doctor can order medical equipment for you.

· Beware of health care providers who say they are part of Medicare or any branch of the federal government, or providers who use pressure tactics to get you to accept a service or product.
· Read your Medicare Summary Notice when it comes in the mail.

Are the services billed the ones that you received?
Do the dates correspond with dates of your visits?
Are there duplicate payments for the same service?
Are there ambulance services you are not aware of?
Are there items you do not recall receiving?

· Question your health care professional.

Why is a certain test being performed?
Who is the person performing the test and what are their credentials?
Why is this test being performed so often?

· Be sure that the diagnosis listed on your claim form accurately represents your condition.
· Call your customer service department if you are not sure whether Medicare covers a service.
· Report all suspected fraud to the appropriate agency.
· Always keep proof of any payments you have made to the doctor or supplier.
· Always keep proof of return or pickup slips for medical equipment or items.
· Always keep accurate records of all health care appointments.

· Advertisements of free testing or screening
· Offers of free medical equipment or supplies
· Offers to waive Medicare deductibles and co-insurance
· Offers of free groceries (or other things) in exchange for your Medicare number or Medicare Summary Notice
· Door-to-door or telephone offers of free or discounted Medicare services or items
· Advertisements that read: "Call 1-800-NUMBER; This item is approved by Medicare; No out-of-pocket expenses."
· Offers of more expensive equipment than is medically necessary (motorized wheelchairs, lifts, etc.)
· Medicare being billed for higher cost equipment than was supplied
· Medical justifications signed by a doctor who does not know you
· Charges that are more than 20 percent of the Medicare-approved charge by a supplier or provider who accepts Medicare assignment
· Bills for home medical equipment while the patient is in the hospital or nursing home
· Rented medical equipment left in your home after you no longer need it
· Kits marked for other patients.
· Therapies provided to groups that are billed individually to Medicare
· Therapies, including psychotherapy, provided to patients who cannot benefit from the services (especially patients with Alzheimer's Disease or in a coma).
· Every patient has the same medical equipment (for example the same brand and type of wheelchair, walker, etc.)
· Billing social activities or life services as psychotherapy
· "Gang Visits" -- practitioners stop by all of the patients in a facility without rendering any service but bill as if a service had been provided.

This section of the website is to help you determine if you should report suspected Medicare fraud. We believe it is a valuable tool to assist you in making that determination. However, it is not intended to prevent you from making a report if you decide that such a report should be made.

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