06/11/2026
https://katv.com/community/little-rock-arc/medicare-fraud-prevention-week-highlights-scams-targeting-arkansas-seniors-fraud-senior-medicare-patrol-billing-statements-errors-summary-notice-charges-services-products
SMP appeared on Little Rock ARC on June 2 during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week with Isley Gooden on KATV Channel 7
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Medicare fraud costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year, and officials in Arkansas are urging residents to stay alert during Medicare Fraud Prevention Week.
About 20% of Arkansas residents rely on Medicare, making it especially important for beneficiaries to watch for scams and review their billing statements for errors, according to the Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol.
Kathleen Pursell, program director of the Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol, said the Senior Medicare Patrol is a national education program that covers the entire state with the message of Medicare fraud prevention. Pursell said the program encourages people to “protect, detect, and report” suspected fraud, and it can also help beneficiaries with billing errors.
Pursell said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that $100 billion is lost to fraud, waste and abuse. “That’s our money, that’s taxpayer money,” she said, adding that beneficiaries should be diligent about their health care.
One of the most common issues the program sees involves billing errors, including charges for services or products that were never received or ordered by a provider. Pursell encouraged seniors to review their Medicare Summary Notice, saying it is a key way to detect errors or suspected fraud.
Pursell said some of the biggest red flags include unsolicited calls, texts, emails and social media pop-ups. She urged people not to trust unexpected contacts and to be cautious about answering calls, recommending that people avoid answering calls that do not show a name or company identification.
She also warned that scammers may claim to be from Medicare or another government agency. Pursell said those agencies do not call to ask for personal information. She said warning signs include unsolicited contact followed by requests to verify identity or provide payment information, such as a Medicare number, Social Security number or bank account details. She said scammers may also use threats and other intimidating tactics if the call continues.
Pursell said anyone who spots something on a Medicare statement that “didn’t happen to them” can contact the Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol for help reviewing suspicious charges and questions about potential fraud.
For more information, individuals can visit the Senior Medicare Patrol website at ar.gov/SMP
