The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General has identified a fraud scheme involving genetic testing.
Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Beneficiaries are being targeted through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits.
If a beneficiary agrees to genetic testing or verifies personal or Medicare information, a testing kit is sent even if it is not ordered by a physician or medically necessary.
Protect Yourself
- If a genetic testing kit is mailed to you, do not accept it unless your physician ordered it. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items.
- Be suspicious of anyone who offers you free genetic testing and then requests your Medicare number. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.
- A physician that you know and trust should approve any requests for genetic testing.
- Medicare beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their Medicare numbers. If anyone other than your physician’s office requests your Medicare information, do not provide it.
Note that DNA testing companies such as Ancestry.com, which test for purposes of estimating ethnicity, will not ask for Medicare numbers.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the HHS OIG Hotline.