There have been reports of
educational sessions and Facebook ads stating that Medicare would pay for
genetic testing for cancer screening or pharmacogenomic testing. All the
senior needs to do is supply their Medicare number and have a swab taken.
In most cases, this is Medicare
fraud. Genetic testing is only covered by Medicare when you have signs or
symptoms of a disease or condition and your physician says that the test
is medically
necessary. Genetic tests used to screen for
disease risk or to see how medicines may affect you are not covered
by Medicare.
Please do not give your Medicare
number to anyone outside of your healthcare networks like your physician’s
office, hospital or pharmacy.
This includes outside screenings
that you pay for yourself. These outfits who set up screenings at
churches, etc., will use your Medicare number to bill Medicare for a “Wellness”
visit, so when your doctor tries to bill for this annual benefit, it has
already been used.
Written by: Paula Wallace with PQ Wallace Insurance
Consultants, LLC
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