By Julie Randolph, Information and Access Care Coordination Manager

Michigan’s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a statewide program to assist and empower Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. SMP estimates that the Medicare Program loses $60 billion each year due to fraud, errors, and abuse.

Common examples are:

• Charging for services and supplies that were not provided.
• Misrepresenting a diagnosis, a person’s identity, the service provided, or other facts to justify payment.
• Prescribing or providing excessive or unnecessary tests and services.

LEARN HOW TO PREVENT, DETECT, and REPORT!
Prevention:

• Only share your Medicare card and other health care identification cards and numbers with trusted sources such as your health care providers.
• Use and treat your Medicare card like you would a credit card or banking information.
• Medicare already has your Medicare number. They will not ask you for it over the phone.
• Do not provide your Medicare number to a stranger who calls, visits, or approaches you in a public setting.
• Do not answer calls from unknown callers.
• Stay up to date on the latest scams.
• Consider downloading the SMP mobile app or SMP Medicare Tracker found at https://onelink.to/smpmedicaretracker to help you keep a record of the health care services you receive.

Detection:

• Learn how to read your Medicare Summary Notice and spot red flags.
• Create a Medicare.gov account to review claims quicker.
• Request and use a My Health Care Tracker found at https://smpresource.org/you-can-help/my-health-care-tracker/
• Report Medicare fraud, concerns found on your Medicare Summary Notice, or if you accidentally gave out your personal Medicare information to 1-844-677-6424. You can also report on your SMP Medicare Tracker app.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm the authenticity of any replacement card you might receive or to discuss other concerns regarding potential medical identity theft.

It takes all of us to protect and preserve Medicare funds for those needing services now as well as those needing Medicare in the future.