Springhill Anti Fraud Protection Articles

Earlier this year Fidelity Investments estimated that a couple retiring today at age 65 can expect to pay $230,000 in Medicare premiums and uncovered expenses over the course of their golden years… a poisonous reality that must be met in addition to regular retirement savings. The fact that rising health care costs also tops the biggest concerns among many retirees means finding a antidote for both saving and investing appropriately to offset the burden of future medical expenses.



To address healthcare concerns and future living costs, I often suggest that soon-to-be retirees maximize their funding of a Roth IRA and consider taking a more aggressive, long-term stance with the investments inside of it. You are likely familiar with the popular features of the Roth IRA, including tax-deferred growth and tax-free-withdrawals, but many haven’t considered how additional features can be used to offset future medical expenses, such as the fact that there are no required distributions at age 70½ and that owners can invest in anything they want within their Roth.

http://springhillmedgroup.com/

Over the years, Medicare has been proactive in its efforts to bring awareness to Medicare fraud, a national problem that costs the program millions of dollars each year. The Medicare program relies heavily on a number of sources to assist them in the detection and prevention of Medicare fraud including professionals of the healthcare industry.

Overview of Medicare Fraud



Medicare fraud generally refers to willfully and knowingly billing medical claims in an attempt to defraud the Medicare program for money. Anyone found guilty of Medicare fraud is subject to exclusion from participation in the Medicare program in addition to fines and possibly imprisonment. Most Medicare fraud occurs in these areas:

• Billing for DME

• Billing for physicians services

• Billing for institutional services such as nursing homes, hospitals, hospice, etc.

Be Aware of Common Schemes



There are four popular Medicare fraud schemes.

1. Medical Equipment Never Provided The most common area of Medicare fraud is billing for Durable Medical Equipment (DME). DME refers to any medical equipment necessary for a patient’s medical or physical condition. It includes wheelchairs, hospital beds, and other equipment of that nature. The provider will bill Medicare for equipment that the patient never received. Mobility scooters hav...

Earlier this year Fidelity Investments estimated that a couple retiring today at age 65 can expect to pay $230,000 in Medicare premiums and uncovered expenses over the course of their golden years… a poisonous reality that must be met in addition to regular retirement savings. The fact that rising health care costs also tops the biggest concerns among many retirees means finding a antidote for both saving and investing appropriately to offset the burden of future medical expenses.



To address healthcare concerns and future living costs, I often suggest that soon-to-be retirees maximize their funding of a Roth IRA and consider taking a more aggressive, long-term stance with the investments inside of it. You are likely familiar with the popular features of the Roth IRA, including tax-deferred growth and tax-free-withdrawals, but many haven’t considered how additional features can be used to offset future medical expenses, such as the fact that there are no required distributions at age 70½ and that owners can invest in anything they want within their Roth.

http://springhillmedgroup.com/

Firms that are paid tens of millions of dollars to root out Medicare fraud are bidding on contracts to investigate companies they are doing business with _ sometimes their own parent companies, according to a government report released Tuesday.

Two-thirds of the companies that bid on contracts during a nearly year-and-a-half time period beginning in October of 2010 had financial ties to claims processors _ and in some cases also processed Medicare claims themselves, according to the study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector-general. The report blames what it calls a flawed bidding system and an inadequate conflict-of-interest policy.

The study looked into bids from about 100 potential contractors and subcontractors and found nearly 2,000 relationships that posed potential conflicts. For example, one company submitted a bid to investigate Medicare fraud even though its parent company provided two types of Medicare coverage in all 50 states.

Medicare fraud contractors are often tied to a large number of providers, but the report doesn’t break the numbers down by each contractor.

The federal government requires Medicare fraud contractors to identify their potential conflicts and their financial interests in other companies when submitting bids, but the report found they often failed to provide all the information. Even when they did, it was sometimes inconsistent or unclear, according to the study...

To help protect yourself and Medicare from fraud and identity theft you should report it.



Whenever you get a payment notice from Medicare review it for errors. The notice shows what Medicare was billed for, what Medicare paid, and what (if anything) you owe. Make sure Medicare was not billed for health care services, medical supplies, or equipment you did not get.



Before you contact your health care provider, Medicare, or the Inspector General’s hotline, carefully review the facts, and have the following ready:



• The provider’s name and any identifying number you may have.



• The service or item information you are questioning.



• The date the service or item was supposedly given or delivered.



• The payment amount approved and paid by Medicare.



• The date on your Medicare Summary Notice.



• Your name and Medicare number (as listed on your Medicare card).



• The reason you think Medicare should not have paid.



• Any other information you have showing why Medicare should not have paid.

http://springhillmedgroup.com/

Firms that are paid tens of millions of dollars to root out Medicare fraud are bidding on contracts to investigate companies they are doing business with _ sometimes their own parent companies, according to a government report released Tuesday.
Two-thirds of the companies that bid on contracts during a nearly year-and-a-half time period beginning in October of 2010 had financial ties to claims processors _ and in some cases also processed Medicare claims themselves, according to the study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector-general. The report blames what it calls a flawed bidding system and an inadequate conflict-of-interest policy.
The study looked into bids from about 100 potential contractors and subcontractors and found nearly 2,000 relationships that posed potential conflicts. For example, one company submitted a bid to investigate Medicare fraud even though its parent company provided two types of Medicare coverage in all 50 states.
Medicare fraud contractors are often tied to a large number of providers, but the report doesn’t break the numbers down by each contractor.
The federal government requires Medicare fraud contractors to identify their potential conflicts and their financial interests in other companies when submitting bids, but the report found they often failed to provide all the information. Even when they did, it was sometimes inconsistent or unclear, according to the study, which urged federal health...

To help protect yourself and Medicare from fraud and identity theft you should report it.

Whenever you get a payment notice from Medicare review it for errors. The notice shows what Medicare was billed for, what Medicare paid, and what (if anything) you owe. Make sure Medicare was not billed for health care services, medical supplies, or equipment you did not get.

Before you contact your health care provider, Medicare, or the Inspector General’s hotline, carefully review the facts, and have the following ready:

• The provider’s name and any identifying number you may have.

• The service or item information you are questioning.

• The date the service or item was supposedly given or delivered.

• The payment amount approved and paid by Medicare.

• The date on your Medicare Summary Notice.

• Your name and Medicare number (as listed on your Medicare card).

• The reason you think Medicare should not have paid.

• Any other information you have showing why Medicare should not have paid.

http://springhillmedgroup.com/

Firms that are paid tens of millions of dollars to root out Medicare fraud are bidding on contracts to investigate companies they are doing business with _ sometimes their own parent companies, according to a government report released Tuesday.
Two-thirds of the companies that bid on contracts during a nearly year-and-a-half time period beginning in October of 2010 had financial ties to claims processors _ and in some cases also processed Medicare claims themselves, according to the study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector-general. The report blames what it calls a flawed bidding system and an inadequate conflict-of-interest policy.
The study looked into bids from about 100 potential contractors and subcontractors and found nearly 2,000 relationships that posed potential conflicts. For example, one company submitted a bid to investigate Medicare fraud even though its parent company provided two types of Medicare coverage in all 50 states.
Medicare fraud contractors are often tied to a large number of providers, but the report doesn’t break the numbers down by each contractor.
The federal government requires Medicare fraud contractors to identify their potential conflicts and their financial interests in other companies when submitting bids, but the report found they often failed to provide all the information. Even when they did, it was sometimes inconsistent or unclear, according to the study, which urged federal health...

Over the years, Medicare has been proactive in its efforts to bring awareness to Medicare fraud, a national problem that costs the program millions of dollars each year. The Medicare program relies heavily on a number of sources to assist them in the detection and prevention of Medicare fraud including professionals of the healthcare industry.
Overview of Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud generally refers to willfully and knowingly billing medical claims in an attempt to defraud the Medicare program for money. Anyone found guilty of Medicare fraud is subject to exclusion from participation in the Medicare program in addition to fines and possibly imprisonment. Most Medicare fraud occurs in these areas:
• Billing for DME
• Billing for physicians services
• Billing for institutional services such as nursing homes, hospitals, hospice, etc.
Be Aware of Common Schemes
There are four popular Medicare fraud schemes.
1. Medical Equipment Never Provided The most common area of Medicare fraud is billing for Durable Medical Equipment (DME). DME refers to any medical equipment necessary for a patient’s medical or physical condition. It includes wheelchairs, hospital beds, and other equipment of that nature. The provider will bill Medicare for equipment that the patient never received. Mobility scooters have been particularly popular for Medicare fraud schemes.
2. Ser...