Government warns of scams involving government's new discount drug card

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-03-18-drug-card_x.htm

WASHINGTON (AP) — For many Americans, the government's new Medicare drug discount card will be a way to save money. For a few, it is a way to make money — by scamming seniors.

The much-anticipated Medicare program to offer cards with discounts on prescription drugs won't begin until May, but 11 states already have seen cases in which con artists are targeting Medicare beneficiaries in fraudulent come-ons, officials said Thursday.

"It's so appalling these individuals are willing to create schemes that take advantage ... of a law intended to do so much good," said Leslie Norwalk, deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Scams so far have involved phone calls or door to door solicitations to ostensibly register people for the new program. Those behind the scams offer to enroll seniors in exchange for their bank information, social security number, or credit card number.

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[markses]

1. The entire law is a scam

Now that we see the Medicaire actuary was threatened with job loss if he didn't hide the true costs of the bill from Congress. The administration is packed with criminals.

[liberalnurse]

2. This was a major issue presented by the Democrats!

That was very predictable....it happens all the time with contracting government services. No control.