Genetic Testing Fraud: Bob Thomas Sounds the Alarm

July 30, 2019

Whistleblower Law Collaborative attorney Bob Thomas recently discussed genetic testing fraud for Stat News. Bob wrote that genetic testing costs as much as $10,000.  Due to the significant profit potential, “opportunists see an opening.”

Also, HHS-OIG issued a Fraud Alert about genetic testing fraud.

“Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information . . . Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits… If a beneficiary agrees to genetic testing or verifies personal or Medicare information, a testing kit is sent even if it is not ordered by a physician or medically necessary.”

Bob explained how genetics fraud works.

What’s going on here is the same pattern of activity that has occurred throughout the health care system: a great majority of law-abiding actors and a few that seek out opportunities to game the system of government reimbursement. If you can get a saliva swab and a Medicare number from an unsuspecting senior and falsify a doctor’s order (or find a shady doctor to write one), there’s an easy four-figure sum to be had. And if you’re willing to repeat that dodge a few hundred or a few thousand times — you get the idea.

Medicare is facing a wave of genetic testing fraud. And the government is intent on ending it.  If you know about genetic testing fraud, please Contact Us.