July 8, 2024, Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated
Questionable diagnoses of HIV and other maladies triggered extra Medicare Advantage payments; ‘It’s anatomically impossible.’ Gloria Lee was perplexed when the phone calls started coming in from a representative of her Medicare insurer. Could a nurse stop by her Boston home to give her a quick checkup? It was a helpful perk. No cost. In fact, she’d get a $50 gift card. After several such calls in 2022, Lee agreed. A nurse showed up, checked her over, asked her questions, then diagnosed her with diabetic cataracts.
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Wall Street Journal: Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated