Attorney General Daniel Cameron on Tuesday warned Kentuckians of new healthcare scams targeting Medicaid beneficiaries related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and encouraged consumers to report these scams to the Office of the Attorney General.
To profit from the current health crisis, marketing
organizations, telemedicine companies, and labs may work together to solicit
Medicaid beneficiaries for fraudulent COVID-19 testing. The marketing
organization may provide an illegal kickback to a telemedicine company in order
for a provider to sign off on administering both a COVID-19 test and a
Respiratory Pathogen Panel Test (RPP Test). The RPP test is not required to
test for COVID-19, but it allows the provider to bill the Medicaid program at a
higher rate. Sites that administer testing using this illegal scheme often do
not fully process the tests or provide beneficiaries with the results.
The following tips will help Medicaid beneficiaries avoid
fraudulent COVID-19 testing sites:
If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, work with a licensed
healthcare provider to determine if testing is needed. The Commonwealth’s
COVID-19 website provides information on when to seek care for COVID-19.
Only use testing sites approved to test for COVID-19. You
can contact your local health department to confirm the legitimacy of a testing
site.
If a testing site offers additional testing beyond a
COVID-19 test, check with your licensed healthcare provider to see if the
additional testing is needed.
Suspected Medicaid fraud and scams should be reported
immediately to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Hotline at
1-877-ABUSE TIP.