COVID-19 Test Scam Alert

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ended the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, on May 11, 2023. At home COVID-19 tests will no longer covered by Medicare as of that date.

As the Public Health Emergency came to an end, we have seen an increased number of calls this summer regarding beneficiaries being sent and billed for at home COVID-19 tests that they did not order. These at home COVID-19 test kits are sometimes back dated to be billed before the Public Health Emergency ended.

Scammers will sometimes call beneficiaries over the phone to confirm their Medicare number and personal information under the guise of sending "free" at home COVID-19 tests. Fraudsters are also stealing Medicare numbers and beneficiary information without talking to them and billing Medicare for these fraudulent tests.

We recommend reading your last four (4) Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) and look for any charges that look suspicious from companies or doctors you do not know. If you have received any at home COVID-19 tests that you did not order, please call the Illinois SMP and report those charges.

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043 or visit www.illinoissmp.org.

August and September 2023 SMP Workshops

August 9, 2023, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – Rep. Brad Stephens Senior Fair

The Salvation Army Norridge Citadel (8354 W. Foster Avenue Norridge, IL 60706)

August 11, 2023, 10:00 am – DMV Mobile Unit at Schaumburg Township

Schaumburg Township Senior Service Department

(1 Illinois Blvd. Hoffman Estates, IL 60169)

August 12, 2023, 9:00 am – Main Street Realtors Senior Fair

Frisbie Senior Center (52 E Northwest Hwy. Des Plaines, IL 60016)

August 16, 2023, 11:00 am – Garden House Senior Living SMP Bingo

Garden House of Maywood Apartments (515 S. 2nd Ave. Maywood, IL 60153)

August 17, 2023, 1:00 pm – LAMDA Spanish Bingo

Lamda Community Center (6118 W Cermak Rd. Cicero, Illinois 60804)

August 18, 2023, 10:00 am – Senior Citizen Day – Proviso Township

Proviso Township Senior (4565 Harrison Street Hillside, IL 60162)

August 19, 2023, 10:00 am – Seasoned Adults Matter Senior Luncheon.

Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn (9333 South Cicero Avenue Oak Lawn, IL 60453)

August 24, 2023, 10:00 am – Village of Park Forest Senior Fair

Dining On the Green (349 Main Street Park Forest, IL 60466)

August 26, 2023, 10:00 am – Vive tu Vida Spanish Fair

McKinley Park Gymnastics Center (2210 W Pershing Rd. Chicago, IL 60609)

August 28, 2023, 2:00 pm – Central Baptist Village Presentation + Bingo

Central Baptist Village (4747 N. Canfield Ave. Norridge, IL 60706)

August 29, 2023, 12:00 pm – Wheeling Senior Meal Site SMP Bingo

Village of Wheeling Senior Services (1 Community Blvd. Wheeling, IL 60090)

August 30, 2023, 12:30 pm – Northbrook Park District SMP Bingo

Northbrook Park District (3323 Walters Ave. Northbrook, IL 60062)

September 5, 2023, 10:00 am – Flesh Becomes Word Church SMP Bingo

Flesh Becoming Word Church (18423 Stony Island Ave. Lansing, IL 60438)

September 7, 2023, 9:00 am – Roselle Senior Fair

Clauss Recreation Center (555 Bryn Mawr Ave. Roselle, IL 60172)

September 7, 2023, 11:00 am – Hanover Township 16th Annual Health and Wellness Expo

Hanover Township (240 S. IL Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)

September 11, 2023, 10:00 am – River Forest Public Library SMP Bingo

River Forest Public Library (735 Lathrop Ave. River Forest, IL 60305)

September 13, 2023, 9:00 am – Senator John Curran Senior Fair

Lemont Core Fitness Center (16050 W 127th St. Lemont, Illinois 60439)

September 14, 2023, 1:00 pm – LAMDA Spanish SMP Bingo

LAMDA Community Center (6112 W Cermak Rd. Cicero, Illinois 60804)

September 19, 2023, 11:00 am – Hanover Township SMP Bingo

Hanover Township (250 S Il Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)

September 20, 2023, 9:30 am – Active Senior Expo

Atlantis Banquets (1273 N Rand Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004)

September 21, 2023, 10:00 am – Schaumburg Meal Site SMP Bingo

The Barn (231 Civic Drive Schaumburg, IL 60193)

September 27, 2023, 10:00 am – The Salvation Army SMP Bingo with Health Screenings by Alivio

The Salvation Army Cross Generations Worship and Community Center (2900 Burr Oak Ave, Blue Island, IL 60406)

September 28, 2023, at 10:00 am – Dolton Public Library Public Benefits and SMP Bingo

Dolton Public Library (14037 Lincoln Ave, Dolton, IL 60419)

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

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This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

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