kirkland reporter - dollars and sense

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October 14, 2011 [8] www.kirklandreporter.com Medicare fraud Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program. It covers over 40 million people and makes payments of about $500 billion per year, of which, al- most $48 billion is estimated to be improper. Improper payments can be due to fraud, waste or abuse. ese numbers are staggering. Ex- amples of health- care fraud include: Billing for ser- vices not provided; billing for unnecessary ser- vices or equipment; counter- feit prescription drugs; and used equipment sold as new. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself: 1) Keep a record of your medical activities by date, service received, equipment provided, tests run, etc. 2) Ask questions. If uncomfortable asking, have an advocate, such as a family member, help you. 3) Review your Medicare Summary Notice or Explana- tion of Benefits. Do they match your records? Steve Geertz, CPA, is prin- cipal of BG & Company LLC in Kirkland. Contact him at 425-891-8752 or [email protected]. YOU RIGHTFULLY EARNED IT. NOW RIGHTFULLY KEEP IT. www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC Sarah R Taylor, AAMS® Financial Advisor 963 6th St S Kirkland, WA 98033 425-828-9087 Call or visit your local financial advisor today. Looking to keep more of your income and cut your taxes? Then tax-free municipal bonds* may be for you. *Bonds may be subject to state, local or the alternative minimum tax. 535081 9757 ne juanita drive #123 kirkland, washington 98034 425-891-8752 | www.bgco-llc.com & COMPANY LLC FINANCIAL, FORENSIC AND FRAUD SERVICES 537020 COMMENTARY Steve Geertz more story online… kirklandreporter.com ...dollars & $ense

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Page 1: Kirkland Reporter - Dollars and Sense

October 14, 2011[8] www.kirklandreporter.com

Medicare fraudMedicare is the nation’s

largest health insurance

program. It covers over 40 million people and makes payments of about $500 billion per year, of which, al-

most $48 billion is estimated to be improper. Improper payments can be due to fraud, waste or abuse. � ese numbers are staggering.

Ex-amples of health-care fraud include: Billing for ser-vices not provided;

billing for unnecessary ser-vices or equipment; counter-feit prescription drugs; and used equipment sold as new.

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself:

1) Keep a record of your medical activities by date, service received, equipment provided, tests run, etc.

2) Ask questions. If uncomfortable asking, have an advocate, such as a family member, help you.

3) Review your Medicare Summary Notice or Explana-tion of Bene� ts. Do they match your records?

Steve Geertz, CPA, is prin-cipal of BG & Company LLC in Kirkland. Contact him at 425-891-8752 or [email protected].

YOU RIGHTFULLY EARNED IT.NOW RIGHTFULLY KEEP IT.

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPCSarah R Taylor, AAMS®Financial Advisor

963 6th St SKirkland, WA 98033425-828-9087

Call or visit your local financial advisor today.

Looking to keep more of your income and cut your taxes?Then tax-free municipal bonds* may be for you.

*Bonds may be subject to state, local or the alternative minimum tax.

535081

9757 ne juanita drive #123kirkland, washington 98034

425-891-8752 | www.bgco-llc.com

& COMPANY LLCFINANCIAL, FORENSIC AND FRAUD SERVICES

5370

20

COMMENTARY

Stev

e G

eert

z

more story online…kirklandreporter.com

...dollars & $ense