Medicare kicks off anti-fraud campaign
By HME News Staff
Updated Wed June 9, 2010
BALTIMORE - CMS this week launched a national fraud prevention campaign. The agency is targeting markets that include high percentages of Medicare beneficiaries who fall into the Medicare Part D donut hole and markets that have high ethnic populations who have been targeted by scam artists.
The first phase of the campaign includes $1 million worth of radio advertising. The 30- and 60-second spots will be produced in English, Spanish, Korean and Armenian and will begin running this week.
The campaign will also include TV and print advertising, and outreach efforts.
"The more we can work together to educate the American people about ways to protect themselves and the healthcare system from fraud and scams, the better chance we have to protect taxpayer dollars and the Medicare Trust Funds," said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "In addition to this outreach and education media campaign, we are working with organizations across the country to ensure seniors know where to turn to get information about the new law and their Medicare benefits."
Eligible beneficiaries will receive a one-time $250 tax-free rebate check to help them pay for their medications after they have entered the Medicare donut hole, according to the release. The checks started mailing out today. Beneficiaries should go to www.ssa.gov for more information.
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