March 2011 FRAUD ALERT! Medical Identity Theft and Medicare Fraud Medical Identity Theft occurs when someone steals your personal information (like your name, social security number or Medicare number) to obtain medical care, buy drugs, or submit fake billings to Medicare in your name. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General,Medicare identity theft can disrupt your life, damage your credit rating, and waste taxpayer dollars. The HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) produced a printable brochure that can be found at www.StopMedicareFraud.gov. The brochure outlines how to Deter, Detect and Defend against medical identity theft: DETER-Protect your Personal Information . Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers. . If it's free, they don't need your number! Be suspicious of anyone who offers free medical equipment or services and then requests your Medicare number. . It's illegal, and it's not worth it! Do not let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number. DETECT-Watch Out for These Common Fraud Schemes . Just walk away if people approach you in parking lots, shopping centers, or other public places and offer free services, groceries, transportation or other items in exchange for your Medicare number. . Simply hang up the phone if someone calls you claiming to be conducting a health survey and asks for your Medicare number. . Don't give your information to telephone marketers who claim to be from Medicare or Social Security and ask for payment over the phone or Internet. They may want to steal your money. DEFEND-Check your Medical Bills, Medicare Summary Notices, Explanations of Benefits and Credit Reports . Were you charged for any medical services or equipment that you didn't get? . Do the dates of services and charges look unfamiliar? . Were you billed for the same thing twice? . Does your credit report show any unpaid bills for medical services/equipment you didn't receive? . Have you received any collection notices for medical services or equipment you didn't receive? If you spot questionable charges, contact your health provider. It may be just a mistake. If you don't get it resolved by your provider, contact Medicare. If you suspect Medicare fraud call the Inspector General's toll-free Hotline at 800-447-8477 (800-HHS-TIPS) or the toll-free TTY number at 800-377-4950. BUCKSCOUNTY CRIMES AGAINST OLDER ADULTS TASK FORCE Bucks County District Attorney's Office A Woman's Place (AWP) 215-348-6344 1-800-220-8116 Bucks County Area Agency on Aging Bucks County Office of Consumer Protection 215-348-0510 215-348-6060 Bucks County Coroner's Office Bucks County Register of Wills 215-348-3852 215-348-6265 Network of VictimAssistance (NOVA) US Dept. of Health and Human Services 1-800-675-6900 Investigations, Office of the Inspector General www.crimesaginstolderadultsbucks.org 24 - HOUR HOTLINE: 1-800-490-8505