Don't be a target of health care fraud
By Don Gay

Protect yourself from Medicare errors, fraud and abuse. Protecting your personal information is the best line of defense in the fight against healthcare fraud and abuse. Every day consumers get ripped off by scam artist. Medicare and Medicaid lose billions of dollars each year. You can make a difference!

Here are some ways to take an active role in protecting your healthcare benefits:

Treat your Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security numbers like a credit card number. Never give these numbers to a stranger; remember, Medicare doesn't call or visit to sell you anything; don't carry your Medicare or Medicaid card unless you will need it. Only take it to the doctor's appointment, visits to your hospital or clinic, or trips to the pharmacy; record doctor visits, tests and procedures in your personal health care journal or calendar; and save Medicare Summary Notices and Part D Explanation of Benefits. Shred the documents when they are no longer useful.

Even when you do everything right, there is a chance that you could be a target of healthcare fraud. There are a lot of ways that your personal information can be used without your permission.

Here are some steps you can take to detect potential errors, fraud and abuse: always review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and Part D Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for mistakes; access to your current Medicare account is available 24 hours a day, simply visit www.MyMedicare.gov.; compare your MSN and EOB to your personal health care journal and prescription drug receipts to make sure they are correct; look for three things on your billing statement: charges for something you didn't get, billing for the same thing twice and services that were not ordered by your doctor.

If you suspect error, fraud or abuse, report it immediately! You will protect other people from becoming victims and help to save your Medicare benefits.

Here are the steps you should take to report your concerns and abuse: if you have questions about information on you Medicare Summary Notice or Part D Explanation of Benefits, call your provider or plan first. If you are not comfortable calling your provider or plan or you are not satisfied with the response you get, call your local SMP at 1-800-669-8387 or 478-982- 8526, Georgia Cares Coordinator, Don A. Gay, Sr.