Dozens of Marylanders have reported to the 11 News I-Team more instances of Medicare fraud amounting to more than $57,000.As the I-Team reported on Tuesday, people are receiving COVID-19 tests in the mail that they said they never ordered. And when they check with Medicare, they learn that Medicare has paid for all of the tests.Ron Rouch and his wife never received a call offering them COVID-19 tests. He said he and his wife didn’t even know this had happened to them until they saw the I-Team’s story on Tuesday. He said he went online to check their Medicare statements.”Sure enough, I saw a bill for $120 for a COVID test,” Rouch said. “Of course, we never received one, we never ordered one.”The test was charged to his wife’s Medicare account, so Rouch said he started a conversation online and asked for help using Medicare’s chat feature.”There’s a huge scam happening now, according to the news, about Medicare paying for unwanted or never-ordered COVID tests,” Rouch read from the conversation he saved.Rouch said his specific concern was whether his should change her Medicare number. The response from Medicare was: “You do not need to request a new number. It’s just not you that this is happening to,” Rouch said.Rouch said Medicare was helpful overall, but he worries about what could happen if his wife doesn’t get a new Medicare number.”I feel like, yes, we probably should get a new Medicare number,” Rouch said. “The other concern is, what else can they do with her Medicare information? Can they start sending in orders for other tests? My biggest concern is, how is somebody getting these numbers? Do they have her Social Security number?” | VIDEO BELOW: More Marylanders call I-Team over Medicare fraudAs of Friday, 66 people have told the I-Team that they’re also victims of fraud — that’s more than the official statewide number of reports. They reported receiving 607 boxes of COVID-19 tests, which adds up to more than $57,000 that Medicare paid in unwanted tests — all of it taxpayer money.Elouise Mayne, the chief of client and community services for the Maryland Department of Aging, said the current official statewide number of reports is 50.| LINK: Elder Scams and Fraud (Maryland Department of Aging)As of a week ago, there were 40 similar reports of fraud statewide, according to the Maryland Department of Aging. As of Friday, there now have been 10 more reports that added an additional 78 boxes of COVID-19 tests that people didn’t want or approve. Medicare paid for all of them, costing taxpayers more than $7,300 just in the past week.The I-Team reached out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services multiple times, asking how the government agency decides when someone needs to be given a new Medicare number. CMS said it would respond Tuesday.Have you received COVID-19 tests in the mail that you didn’t order? If so, email the I-Team at 11Investigates@wbaltv.com.| VIDEO BELOW: Fraudulent fees charged to Medicare over unwanted COVID-19 tests
Dozens of Marylanders have reported to the 11 News I-Team more instances of Medicare fraud amounting to more than $57,000.
As the I-Team reported on Tuesday, people are receiving COVID-19 tests in the mail that they said they never ordered. And when they check with Medicare, they learn that Medicare has paid for all of the tests.
Ron Rouch and his wife never received a call offering them COVID-19 tests. He said he and his wife didn’t even know this had happened to them until they saw the I-Team’s story on Tuesday. He said he went online to check their Medicare statements.
“Sure enough, I saw a bill for $120 for a COVID test,” Rouch said. “Of course, we never received one, we never ordered one.”
The test was charged to his wife’s Medicare account, so Rouch said he started a conversation online and asked for help using Medicare’s chat feature.
“There’s a huge scam happening now, according to the news, about Medicare paying for unwanted or never-ordered COVID tests,” Rouch read from the conversation he saved.
Rouch said his specific concern was whether his should change her Medicare number. The response from Medicare was: “You do not need to request a new number. It’s just not you that this is happening to,” Rouch said.
Rouch said Medicare was helpful overall, but he worries about what could happen if his wife doesn’t get a new Medicare number.
“I feel like, yes, we probably should get a new Medicare number,” Rouch said. “The other concern is, what else can they do with her Medicare information? Can they start sending in orders for other tests? My biggest concern is, how is somebody getting these numbers? Do they have her Social Security number?”
| VIDEO BELOW: More Marylanders call I-Team over Medicare fraud
As of Friday, 66 people have told the I-Team that they’re also victims of fraud — that’s more than the official statewide number of reports. They reported receiving 607 boxes of COVID-19 tests, which adds up to more than $57,000 that Medicare paid in unwanted tests — all of it taxpayer money.
Elouise Mayne, the chief of client and community services for the Maryland Department of Aging, said the current official statewide number of reports is 50.
| LINK: Elder Scams and Fraud (Maryland Department of Aging)
As of a week ago, there were 40 similar reports of fraud statewide, according to the Maryland Department of Aging. As of Friday, there now have been 10 more reports that added an additional 78 boxes of COVID-19 tests that people didn’t want or approve. Medicare paid for all of them, costing taxpayers more than $7,300 just in the past week.
The I-Team reached out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services multiple times, asking how the government agency decides when someone needs to be given a new Medicare number. CMS said it would respond Tuesday.
Have you received COVID-19 tests in the mail that you didn’t order? If so, email the I-Team at 11Investigates@wbaltv.com.
| VIDEO BELOW: Fraudulent fees charged to Medicare over unwanted COVID-19 tests
