ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide), a 53-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs and well-being of our State’s approximately 2.5 million senior citizens today announced its Medicare Fraud of the Monthfor August: Hospice Care Medicare Fraud.
The StateWide Fraud of the Month is a component of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the definitive resource for New York State’s older adults and caregivers to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. StateWide is New York’s grantee/administrator for this Federal Program.
Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally ill. The focus is on comfort and quality of life rather than on curing illnesses. Care examples include doctors’ services, respite care, drugs and durable medical equipment for pain management.
Maria Alvarez, Executive Director StateWide advises seniors to be wary of potential scams involving Hospice Care. “Scammers target older adults with offers of free cooking or cleaning services, in-home help or equipment and fake home health visits.
“But behind the offer, they’re enrolling you in hospice care without your knowledge and charging Medicare for services you didn’t need or receive,” she added.
Scammers reach out through:
- Door-to-door visits
- Unsolicited phone calls
- Texts and emails
- False Advertising
Alvarez advises the elderly to know the warning signs of Hospice Fraud and learn how to protect against it:
- Remember: Only a doctor can certify a patient for hospice care. (with a life expectancy of 6 months or less).
- Medicare never covers free services such as housekeeping.
- Never accept gifts in exchange for services.
- Always Review Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to check for any charges unauthorized services.
The NYS Senior Medicare Patrol can help all seniors with questions, concerns or complaints about Nursing Home Fraud, abuse and quality of care issues. Its certified counselors are available to help. Call 800-333-4374
“We have trained counselors to help educate Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. To report Medicare fraud, errors or abuse you can call our NYS Medicare Fraud Helpline at 800-333-4374 or visit www.nysenior.org,” Alvarez concluded.
StateWide also provides information and educational presentations, assistance regarding any Medicare questions, plan comparisons, appeals, billing issues and patients’ rights to all seniors throughout New York State.
It is estimated that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion dollars nationally per year. To help combat this illicit industry StateWide announced its Fraud of the Month program in 2022 to highlight these scams being perpetrated on the State’s seniors.
SOURCE New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Inc.
