There are several types of Medicare fraud seen across the islands. Phantom billing happens when someone bills Medicare for services you never received. Upcoding means using a more expensive billing code to get paid more. Kickbacks, like offering cash or gifts to get referrals, are also illegal.
Other problems include giving kūpuna equipment they don’t need or letting people use someone else’s Medicare card. These actions raise costs for everyone and can put local seniors at risk by shifting care away from what is truly needed.
If you notice strange charges or pushy sales behavior, report it to SMP Hawaii or Medicare. You can stay anonymous, and your report helps protect our Hawaii community.
