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YOU Can Help STOP Medicare Fraud
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), who is in
charge of the Medicare program, is continuing its fight to stop
Fraud and Abuse. It is launching an Incentive Reward Program (IRP)
starting March 1, 1999. This program offers rewards for
information leading to recovery of Medicare funds.
How do I qualify?
Here are the requirements:
- There must be at least $100, in overpayments,
recovered
by Medicare;
- Complaint must be received on or after July
8, 1998;
- Information must relate to a specific
situation, individual or entity, and specify the time period
of the occurrence;
- It must be relevant information, not
frivolous; and
- A reward is not given if the individual or
entity is already the subject of a review or investigation.
What is the reward?
The amount of reward cannot exceed 10% of the
Medicare overpayment recovered or $1,000, whichever is less. If
there is more than one complainant, the reward will be split
equally, and will not exceed the maximum $1,000.
How do you file the complaint?
Call or write your local Medicare Program
Integrity department with your complaint. The complaint will be
developed and, following specific guidelines, may be forwarded to
the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). If the complaint
results in a sanctionable offense and all overpayments are
collected, you will receive a reward eligibility notification and
claim form. . The reward payment is based on the money recovered
from the overpayment and is subject to the IRS tax laws.
Call your local Medicare customer service
department for more information about the Incentive Reward
Program. |
