Why this matters now
In a September 2026 evaluation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found that Medicare Advantage organizations and CMS take steps to screen fraudulent durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers, but gaps remain. OIG said out-of-network suppliers generally receive fewer checks and that some suppliers can bill Medicare Advantage without being enrolled in Medicare.
OIG recommended stronger checks of out-of-network suppliers, stronger use of CMS’s Preclusion List, and requiring DMEPOS suppliers that bill Medicare Advantage to be enrolled in Medicare—or seeking authority to do so. CMS concurred with or said it would consider the recommendations. These are oversight recommendations, not new beneficiary enrollment rules.
Recent enforcement shows the scale of the risk
CMS announced on September 8 that it was barring 11 medical-supply companies associated with more than $3.4 billion in suspected fraudulent billing practices in 2025 and 2026. CMS said the suppliers included companies that billed for equipment beneficiaries never requested or received. That enforcement action does not mean ordinary Medicare equipment claims are suspect, but it is a reminder to review what is billed in your name.
Watch for these warning signs
- An unsolicited caller asks for your Medicare number. Be especially cautious when the call starts with an offer for “free” braces, catheters, monitoring devices or other equipment.
- Medical equipment arrives that you did not request. HHS-OIG advises beneficiaries not to accept equipment unless it was ordered by their physician and to keep a record if they refuse or return an unexpected delivery.
- A claim or Explanation of Benefits lists supplies you never received. Compare claims with your own records and question unfamiliar providers, dates or items.
- Someone claims to be Medicare and asks for personal information to sell you something. Medicare says it does not call or visit beneficiaries to sell products. Requests for personal information are limited to specific circumstances.
Three practical steps to protect your Medicare information
1. Guard your Medicare number. Treat it like other sensitive personal information. Share it with your doctors, legitimate providers, insurers working on your behalf, or trusted people who need it for Medicare-related purposes—not with an unsolicited caller offering a product.
2. Review your Medicare activity. Medicare recommends checking claims regularly. People with Original Medicare can use a secure Medicare.gov account to see claims as soon as they are processed. If you have Medicare Advantage, review the plan’s Explanation of Benefits and contact the plan about unfamiliar charges.
3. Report suspicious activity. Medicare directs beneficiaries who suspect fraud to call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report Medicare fraud online. HHS-OIG also accepts fraud reports through its hotline.
Do not let fraud concerns keep you from legitimate care
Durable medical equipment can be medically necessary and valuable when it is ordered appropriately. The goal is not to avoid equipment you need; it is to make sure the order comes from a provider involved in your care, the supplier is legitimate, and the items billed to Medicare match what you actually received.