--- title: Illinois SMP Fraud Alert February 18, 2025 --- Illinois SMP Fraud Alert February 18, 2025 | View in browser Empowering people to thrive as they age. Brace Scams Show No Signs of Slowing Down in Illinois   Durable Medical Equipment (DME) scams have been around for a long time. Even during the pandemic, scammers never let up on these phone scams that would offer beneficiaries "free" braces.    How the scam works is that call centers are used to up-sell or give "free" braces to beneficiaries regardless of if they need them. These call centers then allegedly give kickbacks to telemedicine companies for the DME orders. The telemedicine companies then will allegedly pay doctors to write the medically unnecessary DME orders. Doctors are needed to sign off on the orders in order for Medicare to pay for the braces.   The Illinois SMP recommends the following to prevent this scam: Always work with your own trusted doctor if you need medical equipment like a brace or have any other medical need. Never give your Medicare number over the phone to someone you do not know. (Remember that Medicare never calls you.) Read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) looking for anything billed to Medicare that you never received or is different than what you received. The Illinois SMP is here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-6043.   Please visit www.illinoissmp.org to download all of our tip sheets to help prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud. Feb 18, 2025, at 10:00 am – SALT SMP Presentation  Lemont Community Center (16300 Alba Street Lemont, IL 60439)    February 21st at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo (Residents Only) Pines of Edgewater (5439 N. Kenmore Ave. Chicago, IL 60640)    February 24, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo   Des Plaines Public Library (1501 Ellinwood St. Des Plaines, IL 60016)    February 27, 2025, at 1:00 pm – Resource Fair  Waukegan Township (414 S Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085)   February 28, 2025, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Presentation  Hanover Township (250 S Il Rte. 59 Bartlett, IL  60103)    March 3, 2025, at 11:00 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo Acorn Public Library District (15624 Central Avenue Oak Forest, IL 60452)    March 4, 2025, at 7:00 pm - SMP Presentation and Bingo   Prairie Trails Public Library (8449 S. Moody Avenue Burbank, IL 60459)    March 5, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation  Blue Island Public Library (2433 York Street Blue Island, IL  60406)    March 10, 2025, at 10:00 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo Oak Lawn Public Library (9427 Raymond Ave. Oak Lawn, IL 60453)    March 12, 2025, from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm – Active Senior Expo Lorena’s Banquets (543 W. Lake Street Addison, IL 60101)    March 12, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation  Tinley Park Public Library (7851 Timber Drive Tinley Park, IL  60477)    March 19, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation  Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St. Blue Island, IL  60406)    March 24, 2025, at 11:30 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo  Brookfield Colgrass Cafe (9022 31st St. Brookfield, Il 60513)    March 25, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo  Flossmoor Public Library (1000 Sterling Ave. Flossmoor, IL 60422)    March 27,2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation  Centennial Park (100 S Western Ave. Park Ridge, IL  60068-3872)    March 28, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm SMP Presentation for TRIAD Event (Closed Invite) Hanover Township Senior Services (240 Illinois Rte. 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)  February 18, 2025 Empowering people to thrive as they age. AgeOptions, 1048 Lake Street, Suite 300, Oak Park, IL 60301, United States, (800) 699-9043 Unsubscribe Manage preferences | | --- |