How do you prevent Medicare/Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse?

The most important step a person can take to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare/Medicaid services is simply to stay alert, know how to spot fraud, and remember that anyone can commit fraud, waste, and abuse. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends following the four Rs:

• record appointments and services

• review the services that were provided

• report suspect fraud so that it can be stopped

• remember to protect your private information, such as your Medicare number, Social Security number, credit card numbers, and so on.

Also, organizations at both the federal and state levels have been created to address fraud, waste, and abuse. These include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity, CMS Program Integrity Contractors, the Health Care Fraud Prevention Partnership, the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team, various levels of law enforcement, and the judicial system.

As, the Medicare website advises, if you suspect fraud, call your provider’s office to ask. They may be able to help you understand the charges or figure out if they made a billing error. If you suspect that Medicare is being charged for an item or service you didn't receive or that your private information, including your