Genetic Testing Scams

The New York StateWide Senior Action Council's "Medicare Fraud of the Month for March"

ALBANY, N.Y., March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide), an organization dedicated to advocacy for the rights of seniors in New York State, today announced its Medicare Fraud of the Month for March: Genetic Testing Scams Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries.

The StateWide Fraud of the Month is a component of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), the definitive resource for New York State's senior citizens and caregivers to detect, prevent, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse. StateWide is New York's grantee/administrator for this Federal Program.

"Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for unnecessary tests or tests not ordered by the beneficiary's doctor," explained Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of the New York StateWide Senior Action Council. Scammers trick Medicare beneficiaries into providing their Medicare information by offering free cheek swabs for genetic testing. They use this information for fraudulent billing or medical identity theft," she added.

Scammers advertise Genetic Testing using test/screening for Autoimmune Diseases, Cancer, Dementia, DNA, Pharmacogenetics and others.

Alvarez advises Seniors to be aware of the following Genetic Testing Scams:

• A company offers you "free" or "at no cost to you" screening without your doctor's order and bills Medicare.
• A company arranges a "telemedicine" consultation with an unfamiliar doctor to order the test.
• Your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) shows charges for genetic tests you never requested or received.
• Charges for pharmacogenetics tests unrelated to your prescriptions.
• Someone requests your Medicare number at health fairs, senior centers, assisted living facilities, farmers markets, parking lots or church-sponsored events.

SMP Advises Seniors How to Protect Against These Scams

• Consult with your primary care doctor before agreeing to any screenings or tests.
  • If the test is denied by Medicare, you may be responsible for the entire cost.
    • The average cost is $9,000 to $11,000. Be sure to review your MSN and EOB and check for tests you did not receive.
• If contacted by a scammer or suspect Medicare fraud, report it to the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)! Call its Helpline at 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.

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SOURCE New York StateWide Senior Action Council, Inc.