Senior Medicare Patrol
Senior Medicare Patrol
The New Mexico Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) works with Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.
Fraud and scams can happen to anyone, but they don’t have to. Fraud prevention empowers people to recognize suspicious activities and potentially exploitative situations and protect themselves with 3 steps: detect, protect, and report:
1. Protect
- Treat your Medicare ID number like a credit card number.
- Only give your Medicare ID number to your trusted Medicare providers.
- Never give out your Medicare ID number over the phone. Medicare will not call and ask for it.
- Do not carry your Medicare card unless you need it for an appointment.
2. Detect
- Keep a record of your medical visits, tests, and procedures in a health care journal. The SMP can provide a healthcare journal to track your care.
- Review your Medicare statements. Look for the following:
- Services were not provided
- Services that are different from those provided
- Billing for the same thing twice
- Services that are not medically necessary
3. Report
- If you detect questionable information on your Medicare statement, call Medicare and the provider to rule out an error (if you know and trust the provider).
Common scams in New Mexico:
- New Medicare card
- ‘Free’ knee or back braces
- Urinary catheter supplies
- Genetic tests
- Pain management events
Fraud Red Flags:
- Asking for private information like your Medicare ID
- Pressure to make a decision right away
- Offers that require your private information immediately
- Threats that you will lose your insurance or benefits
- Requiring private information before providing information
- Don’t click links in emails or text messages
- Don’t say ‘yes’ on a robocall
Have you or someone you know may have been a target or victim of Medicare fraud or scams?
Please call the SMP at 800.432.2080