CMS Medicare Scam Alert!

Date:   06/19/2009

MGMA was recently made aware of a scam being perpetrated against medical practices. Please share this information with other practice administrators.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has become aware of a scam where perpetrators are sending faxes to physician offices posing as the Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The fax instructs provider staff to respond to a questionnaire to provide an account information update within 48 hours in order to prevent a gap in Medicare payments. The fax may have the CMS logo and/or the contractor logo to enhance the appearance of authenticity.

Medicare FFS providers, including physicians, non-physician practitioners, should be wary of this type of request.

Provider Action:

If you receive a request for information in the manner described above, please check with your contractor before submitting any information
Medicare providers should only send information to a Medicare contractor using the address found in the download section of the CMS website found at:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/
or
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll