Did Medicare Pay for a Test You Never Received? A New Fraud Crackdown Gives Seniors a Reason to Look

CMS says its latest enforcement actions have stopped more than $1.6 billion in potentially improper Medicare laboratory payments. Check your claims for tests or providers you don’t recognize. pics five/Shutterstock

When was the last time you checked whether every laboratory test appearing on your Medicare claims was one you actually received? That question suddenly carries more weight after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that enforcement actions have stopped more than $1.6 billion in potentially improper Medicare laboratory payments. CMS says its crackdown has included $732 million in savings from revoking 157 fraudulent laboratory providers, more than $500 million halted through payment suspensions, and another $276 million recouped from identified overpayments. The agency has specifically targeted labs suspected of billing for tests that weren’t performed, medically unnecessary services, and more expensive services than those actually provided. Here are seven things you may want to take a closer look at.

1. Start With Tests You Don’t Remember Having