BCBS of Massachusetts warns against DME scams
By HME News Staff
Updated 10:05 AM CDT, Wed October 19, 2022
BOSTON – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is warning members to be vigilant, as scams offering free DME and pharmacy products are on the rise. Medicare beneficiaries and patients who've had a recent injury or surgery are often targeted by scammers, it says. In many cases, the perpetrators solicit physicians to sign off on unnecessary orders or prescriptions, such as back braces or pain cream, which are then improperly billed to a patient's health insurer. "While these types of scams have been around for years, the uptick in telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic is causing a resurgence in fraud," said Jennifer Stewart, senior director for fraud investigation and prevention at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. "Members should treat their medical information like their credit card number and if they're unsure, they should call their clinician to confirm if a service or product is necessary.” Blue Cross members who suspect, experience or witness health care fraud should report the information by calling the number on the back of their member identification card. Consumers who are not Blue Cross members can call the company's fraud reporting hotline at 1-877-327-BLUE (2583).
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