HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging Pennsylvania seniors and their families to be on alert for a rising Medicare scam in which durable medical equipment is shipped to patients without being prescribed, only for scammers to bill the patient or Medicare.
Durable medical equipment can include items such as oxygen machines and wheelchairs that are typically ordered by a physician. Officials say the fraudulent shipments are being used as a pretext to collect payments or illicit reimbursements.
“We are seeing a growing number of instances where senior patients are receiving equipment so that scammers can collect a payout from the patient or the state Medicare program,” Sunday said. “Any and all attempts to defraud the Medicare program negatively impact those who rely on the program for their livelihood and wellbeing.”
The Office of Attorney General’s Health Care Section is offering tips for seniors on Medicare: regularly review Medicare claims and report suspicious charges; report unsolicited medical devices received through the mail; verify questionable bills with a doctor before paying; and protect personal information by refusing to provide details such as Social Security or Medicare ID numbers to unknown callers.
Officials also warn against making changes to Medicare plans or providing information during unsolicited phone calls, particularly during the fall open enrollment period.
Pennsylvanians who suspect they have been targeted can report scams directly to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or to the Attorney General’s Health Care Section at 877-888-4877. Complaints may also be filed online through the Attorney General’s website.
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