Fw: [aca-cac] Re: Medicare fraud alert

[Guest guest]

Listees,

Read the following fraud alert concerning Medicare. Any questions please

call me at 541-928-4060 or contact me off the listserve. Also, there is

a contact number at the end of the message to call if contacted by these

lowlifes. Thanks and happy new year.

J. Holzapfel, D.C.

Albany, OR.

kjholzdc@...

http://docman.chiroweb.com

--------- Forwarded message ----------

From: " A. McClelland " <susan@...>

" CAC Chat List " <cac@...>

Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 00:02:00 -0500

Subject: [aca-cac] Re: fraud alert

Message-ID: <20041229050209.A4A5D2F391@...>

From: aca-members-bounces@...

Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 11:54 PM

ACA-Members@...

Cc: acabizdoc@...

Subject: [aca-members] fwd from chiro list re: fraud alert

December 28, 2004

Provider Enrollment Fraud Alert

This is to inform you that Medicare is aware of an organized group who is

representing themselves as either a Medicare fraud investigator; or a

Medicare

employee from the enrollment, claim or audit units.

These callers tell the physician, or office personnel, that the Medicare

computer system has had a malfunction and they need to update lost

information.

The callers may also say they need to update the physician's provider

record.

They then request via telephone or fax the following information:

.. Copy of physician's drivers license

.. Copy of physician's social security number (SSN)

.. Unique physician identification number (UPIN)

.. Verification of education

.. Verification of practice location

.. Copy of physician's medical license

.. Copy of patient's charts for a specific period of time.

Once the entity receives this information, they falsify enrollment data

using

the physician's name and request a change to their practice locations,

telephone numbers, and pay-to-addresses.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has not suffered any

computer system malfunction and are not calling providers requesting the

above

information be provided.

If you should receive such a call, please try to verify the telephone

number

of the caller, and immediately notify your Medicare carrier that you

suspect

fraud.

CMS is committed to protect all Medicare providers/suppliers and to

ensure

that only those qualified make changes to enrollment data. CMS believes

that

with your help we can target those unscrupulousindividuals that are

looking

to

take advantage of you and the Medicare trust fund.

To report these calls please contact the Connecticut Provider Enrollment

Department at 1-866-535-6790.

Source: CMS JSM-05154, December 27, 2004