The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public about fraud schemes related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Scammers are using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams.
The personal information collected can then be used to fraudulently bill federal health programs and commit medical identity theft. To protect yourself and your facility, the OIG has provided a list of recommendations that include:
- Be mindful of how you dispose of COVID-19 materials such as syringes, vials, vial container boxes, vaccination record cards, and shipment or tracking records. Improper disposal of these items could be used by bad actors to commit fraud.
- Beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their personal, medical, and financial information. Medicare will NOT call beneficiaries to offer COVID-19 related products, services, or benefit review.
- Be suspicious of any unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 tests or supplies. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.
- Do not respond to or open hyperlinks in text messages about COVID-19 from unknown individuals.
- Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone claiming to offer HHS grants related to COVID-19.
- Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-19 contact tracers. Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Medicare number, financial information, or attempt to set up a COVID-19 test for you and collect payment information for the test.
- Be cautious of COVID-19 survey scams. Do not give your personal, medical, or financial information to anyone claiming to offer money or gifts in exchange for your participation in a COVID-19 vaccine survey.
- Ignore offers or advertisements for COVID-19 testing or treatments on social media sites. If you make an appointment for a COVID-19 test online, make sure the location is an official testing site.
- Photos of COVID-19 vaccination cards should not be shared on social media. Posting content that includes your date of birth, healthcare details, or other personally identifiable information can be used to steal your identity.
If you suspect COVID-19 healthcare fraud, you can call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). Access a page for submitting any suspected COVID-19 healthcare fraud activities electronically at the following link: Submit a Hotline Complaint | Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (hhs.gov).
Issue:
All members of the healthcare team should be knowledgeable in detecting COVID-19 healthcare fraud and in how to report it. Facility leaders should be notified immediately if any suspected activity has occurred within your setting.
Discussion Points:
- Review your policies and procedures on COVID-19 and ensure that detecting COVID-19 healthcare fraud is clearly incorporated. Update as needed.
- Train all staff on recognizing suspected COVID-19 fraud and how to immediately report it. Document that these trainings have occurred, and file the signed document in each employee’s education file.
- Periodically audit to ensure that staff are aware of their responsibility to recognize suspected COVID-19 healthcare fraud, and how they can report it immediately.
