Check Your Medicare Summary Notice!

The Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol (TN SMP) is once again receiving multiple reports of fraudulent Medicare claims for urinary catheters—and the trend is alarming. This scam was widespread in 2024, and unfortunately, it has returned.

What’s Happening?

Medicare beneficiaries across Tennessee are finding charges on their Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) for 300 intermittent urinary catheters they never received, from providers they don’t recognize—and that their doctors never ordered. Even more concerning, Medicare is paying these claims.

This is Medicare fraud, and it can put your benefits—and your identity—at risk.

What You Should Know

• Fraudsters are billing Medicare for medical equipment you did not request or receive.

• These charges often appear on MSNs as “intermittent urinary catheter.”

• If left unreported, this fraud can continue and potentially impact your future coverage.

How to Protect Yourself

Take these steps to safeguard your Medicare benefits:

• Review every Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) carefully.

• Report anything that looks wrong or unfamiliar to the TN SMP.

• Call immediately if you see catheter charges you did not receive or your doctor did not order.

• If you believe someone has tricked you into giving out your Medicare number, report it right away.

• Be cautious with phone calls—hang up on suspicious callers and contact the TN SMP directly to verify.

Remember

Medicare will never call you unexpectedly to offer free medical equipment or ask for your Medicare number. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and report it.

What You Should Do If You’ve Been a Victim

1. Report the Fraud Immediately

Contact the Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol (TN SMP) to report suspected Medicare fraud and receive guidance on next steps.

Tennessee Senior Medicare Patrol (TN SMP)

📞 1-866-836-7677

The Tennessee SMP is a grant program administered by the Upper Cumberland Development District / Area Agency on Aging & Disability.

2. Request a Replacement Medicare Card

If your Medicare number has been compromised, it’s important to request a new Medicare card with a new Medicare number.

• Your Medicare number is no longer tied to your Social Security number, so your Social Security information remains unaffected.

• Replacing your card helps prevent further fraudulent billing in your name.

You can request a new card by:

• Signing in to Medicare.gov to create or access your account and print a replacement card

or request one by mail, or

• Calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for assistance.