Illinois SMP Program Fraud Alerts

 

The Illinois SMP Program sends email Fraud Alerts every Friday. These alerts contain fraud-related news articles, information about current scams in Illinois or other parts of the United States, and useful healthcare or fraud-related resources. If you would like to be added to the Illinois SMP Fraud Alert email list, please contact:

Erin Weir, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator

Phone: (800)699-9043, (708)383-0258

TTY: (708)524-1653

Fax: (708)524-0870

erin.weir@ageoptions.org

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Illinois SMP Fraud Alert - April 23, 2010

Dear SMP readers,

This week’s Fraud Alert only contains a “Fraud in the News” section, as I am out of the office all week leading training for new SMP volunteers in the southern part of Illinois, so I haven’t received any information about current scams this week. I would like to welcome all of our new readers; please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about these Alerts!

Sincerely,


Erin Weir, MSW, LSW, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator

AgeOptions

1048 Lake Street, Suite 300

Oak Park, IL 60301

phone (708)383-0258 fax (708)524-0870

erin.weir@ageoptions.org

ageoptions.org

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Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you have any questions about the Illinois SMP program, or to receive these Fraud Alerts directly, please contact Erin Weir, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator at AgeOptions.

What you will find in this week’s Fraud Alert

• Fraud in the News

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Fraud In The News

The following are current news articles about health care and fraud issues.

Health Care Fraud Articles:

1. “Police Searching for Prescription Fraud Suspect” (the Marion, Illinois Police Department is looking for information about a woman who brought a fraudulent prescription into a Marion CVS this week): http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=9952&type=top
   
   
2. “Scammers Exploit Confusion Over Health Care Overhaul” (another article about health reform scams that features a quote from Darrell Elliott, Kansas SMP statewide coordinator) : http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/04/19/92455/scammers-exploit-confusion-over.html
   
   

   (Another version of this article, entitled “Scammers Prey on Healthcare Reform Confusion,” was included in the Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/20/1587561/scammers-prey-on-confusion.html)

3. “Beware of Medicare Phone Scam” (warning from West Virginia about the Medicare card phone scam also seen in Illinois):  http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/19/beware-of-medicare-phone-scam/
   
   
4. “Medicare’s Fraud Hotline Begins to Root Out Billing Scams” (article about the Florida Medicare fraud hotline operated by SafeGuard Services): http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/17/1584906/medicares-fraud-hot-line-begins.html
   
   
5. “Georgia Couple Allegedly Took Medicare, Medicaid Payments While Patients Were Shorted Food, Medicine”: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2010/April/19/Medicare-Fraud.aspx
   

Consumer Fraud Articles:

6. “ATM Users Warned About Credit Card Skimmers”: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/ 2010/04/21/AR2010042102826.html?referrer=emailarticle

7. “AARP Scam Alert: Loan Sharks of Today”: http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/scamalert/articles/ scam_alert_loan_sharks_of_today.html?cmp=NLC-RSS-DAILY-BULLETIN

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Fraud Alerts contain information about current scams taking place in Illinois, announcements and updates about programs or services related to health care and/or fraud protection, and links to news articles about health care and fraud topics. Please forward any recommendations or announcements that you would like to be included in a future Fraud Alert to erin.weir@ageoptions.org.

AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging of Suburban Cook County, is committed to improving the quality of life and maintaining the dignity of older adults and those who care about them – through leadership and support, community partnerships, comprehensive services, accurate information and powerful advocacy.

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