Medicare Fraud Attempt Targets Fairbury Hospital Name

Jefferson Community Health and Life in Fairbury has reported a Medicare fraud attempt where the hospital's name was spoofed in a call to a Lincoln resident. The call, which displayed the caller ID of JCH&L, requested the resident to provide their Medicare information. The hospital has strongly warned that it will never ask for such sensitive information over the phone and urged the public to be cautious of unsolicited requests.

In a press release, the hospital confirmed that the fraudulent call did not originate from them and highlighted the importance of safeguarding personal information. The hospital’s business office manager advised recipients of such calls to hang up and contact JCH&L directly for verification. They also recommended that Medicare beneficiaries should be vigilant, not providing their Medicare numbers except to trusted healthcare providers.

The Office of Inspector General has also issued guidance to Medicare recipients, emphasizing the need to report suspicious calls and to take protective measures to prevent fraud. They advise checking Medicare statements for any suspicious charges and report possible fraudulent activities through the appropriate hotlines.