December 1, 2023
OIG Issues Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Alert
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public about a fraud scheme involving monthly billing for remote patient monitoring. Please educate staff and patients with this important information.
Legitimate RPM involves using medical devices such as scales, glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, cardiac rhythm devices, and other equipment to remotely monitor for anomalies in patients with chronic medical conditions. This new treatment is beneficial for those whose condition might deteriorate quickly, where monitoring can reduce complications, hospitalizations or death.
However, the OIG has found unscrupulous companies are signing up Medicare enrollees for this service, regardless of medical necessity. Most often, the monthly monitoring never happens, but the enrollee is billed monthly anyway.
- Scammers target Medicare enrollees through calls, texts, and Internet ads
- Scammers steal Medicare numbers and other personal information
- Scammers then bill Medicare for services that are unnecessary or never provided
Report Fraud
- HHS.GOV
- 1-800-447-8477
- TTY: 1-800-377-4950
- Report Fraud to the FTC