LOUISIANA Senior Medicare Patrol, The Louisiana Attorney Generaland the US Department of Health and Human Services want you to protect yourself from possible Medicare fraud.

On March 4, 2011, Health Net, a Part D Prescription Drug Company operating in Louisiana, alerted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that they had experienced a security breach resulting in the loss of Personal Health Information of 882,535 current and former Medicare members. Health Net has notified all affected members. If you have not received notification by mail, there is no need to be alarmed; however, Louisiana SMP wants all Medicare beneficiaries to realize that security breaches of this sort do occur and this is one method by which dishonest persons can obtain your Personal Health Information.

They can then use this information to file false Medicare claims.

Remember: Do not give your Medicare number to telephone solicitors, sales people and people you are not familiar with – once given, Medicare can be billed time and again with your number for services you do not want and have not authorized.

TO REPORT MEDICARE FRAUD, CALL 1-877-272-8720