Feds to track how private Medicare info gets to marketers
Source: AP
WASHINGTON (AP) A government watchdog plans to launch a nationwide probe into how telemarketers may be getting hold of seniors personal Medicare information, a red flag for potential fraud and waste.
An official with the Health and Human Services inspector generals office told The Associated Press the audit will be announced next week. It would follow a narrower probe which found that an electronic system designed for pharmacies to verify Medicare coverage was being used for searches that appeared to have nothing to do with filling prescriptions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement.
The watchdog agencys decision comes amid a wave of relentlessly efficient telemarketing scams targeting Medicare recipients and involving everything from back braces to DNA cheek swabs.
For years, seniors have been admonished not to give out their Medicare information to people they dont know. But a report on the initial probe, provided to the AP, details how sensitive details can still get to telemarketers when a Medicare beneficiary thinks he or she is dealing with a trustworthy entity such as a pharmacy or doctors office.
Read more: https://apnews.com/dad0e6d4f6b461dc3414843c86aca43f
Faux pas
(14,675 posts)mpcamb
(2,870 posts)your plan about what you'll do next.
Arrest a few 'industry leaders' and their accountants if you really want results, not headlines on page 4.
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)CrispyQ
(36,464 posts)Nitram
(22,800 posts)DENVERPOPS
(8,820 posts)Than Walgreens.
They have been nailed TWICE for selling Rx info from prescriptions (and all other personal info) regardless of HIPA..........
Both times, they got a hand slap fine which was a minuscule amount of what they made in Profits from selling the info.
The CEO even said something like......a few million for a fine vs a billion for the info? Besides the fine is a tax deductible expense for the corporation.........
There is a huge huge marketing push by Walgreens currently. Every other TV and Cable commercial is them trying to lure seniors who are on medicare into getting Rx's filled at Walgreens. Considering the above, they know damn well what they are doing by trying to get the Medicare recipients info...............
United Corporations of America.......coming to a country near you. "by and for the corporations".........Textbook & dictionary definition of FASCISM
WE BE F***ED................
LiberalFighter
(50,927 posts)DENVERPOPS
(8,820 posts)The fine was peanuts compared to the money they made both times selling the info..........and still are for all I know.