Friday August 31, 2012
Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you have any questions about the Illinois SMP program, or to receive these Fraud Alerts directly, please contact Jason Echols, Healthcare Consumer Protection Coordinator at AgeOptions.
This project was supported in part by grant numbers 90MP0026 and 90MP0127 from the U.S. Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.
Fraud In The News
The following are current news articles about health care and fraud issues.
Consumer Fraud:
- “Avoid the Fake Plane Ticket Deal” (AARP):
- “Beware the Frauds of Fall” (AARP):
Dear SMP readers,
This week’s Fraud Alert containsan announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice about the sentencing of an Illinois woman on health care fraud charges, a link to our SMP Volunteer Recruitment Video, and an introduction of our new SMP Volunteer Specialist.
Have a great weekend!
What you will find in this week’s Fraud Alert
- Elmhurst Woman Sentenced to 20 Months for Health Care Fraud
- AgeOptions Releases SMP Volunteer Recruitment Video
- Welcome to Annette, Our New SMP Volunteer Specialist
The Department of Justice announced the sentencing of an Elmhurst, IL woman on her conviction for health care fraud and a kickback scheme. Merigrace Orillo was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for her role in a scheme that involved Chalice Home Healthcare Services, Inc., which she co-owned and operated in Illinois. Orillo has also been ordered to pay $744,481 in restitution to the Medicare Trust Fund. Read the full press release here:
AgeOptions Releases SMP Volunteer Recruitment Video
AgeOptions and the Illinois SMP Program recently released a YouTube video to highlight the work of SMP volunteers in Illinois and to recruit new volunteers to the program. We would like to thank the volunteers who helped us make this video, and we are happy to share it with you. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer with the SMP Program, call us at 1-800-699-9043 or visit our website
To view the video, click here:
To view the video with on-screen captions, click here:
Welcome to Annette, Our New SMP Volunteer Specialist
AgeOptions and the Illinois SMP Program is happy to announce that Annette McClain has joined our team as the new SMP Volunteer Specialist. Annette brings a great deal of experience working with volunteers to our program, and in this role, she will work with SMP volunteers in the northern region of Illinois. Welcome Annette! We are glad to have you here.
Jason B. Echols, MSW, Health Care Consumer Protection Coordinator
AgeOptions
1048 Lake Street, Suite 300
Oak Park, IL60301
phone (708)383-0258 fax (708)524-0870
ageoptions.org
AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging of Suburban Cook County, is committed to improving the quality of life and maintaining the dignity of older adults and those who care about them – through leadership and support, community partnerships, comprehensive services, accurate information and powerful advocacy.
Fraud Alertscontain information about current scams taking place in Illinois, announcements and updates about programs or services related to health care and/or fraud protection, and links to news articles about health care and fraud topics. Please forward any recommendations or announcements that you would like to be included in a future Fraud Alert to .