The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a warning that perpetrators of a scam operation have been sending faxes to physician offices. These faxes that appear to be originating from the physician’s Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), and they instruct administrative staff to respond to a questionnaire to provide an account-information update within 48 hours in order to prevent a gap in Medicare payments. Some of the faxes include the CMS logo and/or the contractor logo to enhance the appearance of authenticity.
Medicare FFS [fee-for-service] providers, including physicians and non-physician practitioners, should be wary of this type of request,” CMS stated. “If you receive a request for information in the manner described above, please check with your contractor before submitting any information,” CMS advised. Medicare providers should only send information to a Medicare contractor using the address found in the download section of the CMS.gov website found at www.cms.hhs.gov/mlngeninfo/ or www.cms.hhs.gov/medicareprovidersupenroll
