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From: DSDS E-News <dsds@lphamo.org>

To: DSDS E-News (dsds@lphamo.org) <dsds@lphamo.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2019, 10:45:33 AM CDT
Subject: [DSDS E-News] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Fraud Alert

The purpose of this email is to provide you with important information regarding a fraud alert posted by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This alleged scam specifically targets the
senior population across several states. “Marketing representatives” are visiting senior-living
communities, such as assisted living and residential care facilities, as well as, other various locations
where the senior population often congregate and offer to perform genetic testing for the purpose of
disease detection and prevention. According to DHHS, these individuals are using personal information
collected from those who participate for identity theft and fraudulent billing purposes.

Additional information regarding this scam is noted in the text below, as well as, the links to the two recent
articles discussing the scam in detail.

DHHS Fraud Alert: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/consumer-alerts/alerts/geneticscam.asp.

Impact across many states: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2019/04/18/524185.htm

 The scammers typically try to determine if the person has Medicare or Medicaid and
might host an event, such as bingo with prizes or food, to entice the residents to
participate. Sometimes announcements are made to all residents over the building’s
intercom system in order to attract them to the event.

 They may be dressed in scrubs or white coats to give the appearance they are a health
care professional and in some cases, they may indicate they represent a medical research
facility.

 The victims are usually asked to complete a questionnaire and ask whether any of the
individual’s relatives have had cancer or other diseases. They indicate a genetic test can be
conducted to determine if the individuals already have a disease, or if they are susceptible to
acquiring a specific condition. In some cases, they indicate the test will tell whether the
combination of prescription and over the counter medications the individual is taking may
have undesired interactions or adverse effects on their metabolism.

 If the individual agrees to be tested, the representative obtains their Medicare or

Medicaid numbers and uses a swab to take a saliva sample from inside their mouth. The
individual may or may not be asked to sign the questionnaire and they are typically told the
test results will be sent to them in several weeks, usually somewhere between four and eight
weeks. The individual may or may not receive the results of a lab test later.

DHHS OIG is investigating the scheme in several states, including Missouri. The MMAC Investigations
Unit and Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) would like to know about Missouri seniors who are
on Medicare or Medicaid and have been contacted by genetic testing representatives. The seniors, or
their representatives/family, can contact the MMAC Investigations Unit at (573) 751-
3285 or MMAC.ReportFraud@dss.mo.gov

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