Arrived home today after a 3 week trip to find two packages of unsolicited COVID antigen tests in our pile of mail. These are NOT the free tests one could order thru the federal website. We did NOTHING to generate these orders. Two packages – different senders – each package containing # 8 INDICAID brand tests made by PHASESCIENTIFIC.
I was immediately concerned since they were being run thru Medicare. This was clear because my husband has not used the legal spelling of his first name in decades. That spelling is not on his DL, passport, bank accounts, loans or any other legal document. It is only on his birth certificate, and his Social Security account and thus his Medicare account.
DH online Medicare account did not show a claim for these tests. So I called the fraud line. Medicare did see two claims. They had no explanation as to why these were sent or who ordered them. They did verify that they were covered by Medicare. Medicare assured me there was no fraud or breech of personal information involved – but had no other explanation. Each package label had an order number and a contact number. One clearly stated you must call to ‘opt out of further orders’ This DID get the attention of Medicare’s fraud department since they do not allow this type of fulfillment. It was suggested I call each number – but give no info other than name and address – to see if I could get any futher info.
First agent claimed they have no relationship with ‘Care Clinical labs in Skokie IL – from where package was sent. Claimed they only fill orders. Second number (for order originating with Lab Supplies, Batavia IL, went to a VM which said leave name and order number to opt out. Both contact numbers answered with ‘you are entitled to free OTC COVID tests covered by Medicare, be assured these are free’.
The final ….hmmmmm… moment was when I noticed all 16 tests – from two different senders – expire within the next 7 weeks. A quick check shows this company did NOT get an expiration extension. So, it seems that someone is dumping product and billing Medicare before this ‘free’ program comes to an end.
I see ads on FB all the time to get free mailed covid-19 tests through Medicare from certain companies. I wonder if this is the same thing?
I would have liked to get my and H’s monthly Medicare allotment of covid-19 tests through the mail. CVS says I can’t request them via the drive-thru (this is just to order them, not pick them up right then), but that I can do it online. Online it says I can’t request covid-19 tests that way. So I have to go into the store (and, sometimes there has been a line). Still, though, I’m happy to stockpile the tests, because they apparently won’t be free after May 10.
I got a letter in the mail earlier this week that said something to the effect that I might receive some Covid test kits that I didn’t order and that I could disregard them. I don’t remember the exact wording or who it was from because I threw away the letter. I hadn’t received any unrequested test kits so I figured it was some sort of odd spam. Now I kind of wish I had kept it.
Scammers are sending COVID-19 at home test kits to Medicare beneficiaries and then billing Medicare for reimbursement. If you received COVID-19 test kits that you did not order, please report it.
I’m on the phone right now, reporting it. I couldn’t get the website link to work. The woman said this is very common. I’m glad I kept the packaging, because I could give her the return address. She told me I should also contact Medicare directly, so I will.
Yes. Please report this. I was so pleasantly surprised how quickly I got thru to a live human at the Medicare Fraud department. Call
800-633-4227 and when prompted say ‘suspected fraud’. The two time I called my wait time was less than 5 minutes.
Did your tests come from the “EZ RX Pharmacy?” I looked up the return address on my package (in Duluth, GA) and it looks fake. But you figure they can find them if they filed a claim to get paid by Medicare, right? I hope so.
One from Lab Supplies/CIPHER Labs in Batavia IL. This is the one showing on H’s Medicare account (found it this morning) with a charge of $95. It is the one where the packaging says you must call or text to opt out of future shipments. Looks like this could be a fake address.
The second package is from Care Clinical Lab in Skokie IL. Medicare does not show a claim from them - yet. Maybe the scammers tripped over themselves and sent two orders HA.
H went into Walgreens this morning and picked up 8 Medicare covered tests. They are Binax and expire in 4/24.
After reading this thread I decided to check my Medicare claims page and I found a fraudulent claim for Covid tests dated 3/17/23 for $96. Medicare paid the company, Universal Genetics, $94.08. I called Medicare just now and reported it. Thanks for the heads up!
Second fraudulent charge processed thru H’s account. Since we were out of town for 3+ weeks, I didn’t catch the first charge (2/22) and the second charge was for 3/27. I wasn’t home to ‘opt out’. So this scam group has got the schedule down pat.
When I reported the second fraud claim the agent immediately suggested assigning a new medicare number!!! We will get a letter in about 2 weeks confirming a change and then will receive the new ID.
Sadly, Medicare will not reverse the fraud charges…so the scammers have already won. The agent also said this type of fraud has already lead to pre-authorization requirements for some classes of claims. She mentioned diabetes supplies, braces, splints etc. She Indicted that COVID test supplies might require pre-authorization in the future. And/or those supplies will no longer qualify for mail order but instead need to be ordered and picked up in person.
The other thing I just realized is that the scammers submit the claim and wait for payment before sending the test kits, so by the time the recipient reports the fraud, it’s too late. The claim for the tests my husband got was submitted in late January and approved in early February. He got the tests the last week of March.
I just checked my Medicare statement that came yesterday, and there is one claim for covid tests. I picked up my 8 free monthly allotment a few weeks ago at CVS. So that is for those, I assume.
IF someone was sent tests they didn’t order through the mail and Medicare was fraudulently billed, wouldn’t there be an issue when the person tried to get their monthly allotment from their local pharmacy? Wouldn’t the request be denied, since Medicare had already paid for tests that month? Of course, many people would just accept that at face value, and might not even ever look at the expiration date.
Nope. H marched into Walgreens on March 30 and got his eight ‘free’ Medicare tests - BTW, these are Binax and expire in 4/24. No conflict at all with the fact that the second set of fraudulent ones were billed on 3/27. As per one of the Medicare reps to whom I spoke about the fraud…Medicare will cover these tests when a covered individual requests them - it is the pharmacies that place a once every 30 day limit on the request. I didn’t dig deeper into that explanation - but from our one anecdotal experience - apparently what the rep said is true.
I’m glad I kept the packaging, because I could give her the return address. She told me I should also contact Medicare directly, so I will.