Reports from veterans might address issues such as offers of free or low-cost DME from solicitors claiming VA affiliation. Image: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.com
The inspector general’s office at the VA has issued a fraud alert asking the department’s employees to help in detecting scams involving durable medical equipment such as orthotics, wheelchairs and other medical devices used repeatedly for long periods.
It asked them to report to the IG attempts by medical suppliers to gain authorization or documentation for DME not ordered by a veteran’s healthcare providers within VA or through community care; complaints by veterans or caregivers of bills received for DME supplies that were never prescribed or received; payments offered to induce patient referrals for DME; and evidence of misuse or theft of VA personnel’s prescribing credentials.
It added that reports from veterans might address issues such as offers of free or low-cost DME from solicitors claiming VA affiliation; receipt of medical devices by mail that were not prescribed by a VA-assigned physician; requests from DME suppliers for personal, medical, or financial information; and explanation of benefits letters indicating VA was billed for equipment not received.
The IG’s office typically issues several such requests annually; alerts issued last year addressed substance use disorder treatment scams, medical billing fraud for massage therapy, education program scams, and theft of funds by veterans’ fiduciaries.
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