November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a widespread epidemic that affects more than 29 million children and adults in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association(ADA), more than 86 million Americans have
pre-diabetes
and are at risk for developing
type 2 diabetes. This devastating disease is a leading cause of blindness, kidney problems, heart complications, and amputations, and claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. Managing this chronic disease can drain you emotionally,
physically, and financially. The ADA estimates that in 2012 the total costs of diagnosed diabetes rose to $245 billion, a 41% increase since 2007. As the cost of physician visits, medication, and supplies climb, many seek discounts and savings to curb expenses.
Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) cautions consumers to be aware of schemes that target the diabetic community.
While there are governmental and non-governmental
programs available to aid diabetic patients, there are many unscrupulous individuals who prey on people simply looking to save money on much-needed supplies and medications. The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG)
released a
fraud alert for persons with diabetes about criminals who are contacting people under the guise of being from the Government, Medicare, or diabetic associations and offering free supplies in exchange for patients Medicare or financial information, or to
confirm personal information. These scammers call claiming they will send free supplies including glucose meters, diabetic test strips, or lancelets only if the health insurance or banking information is given. Some even ship items that were never ordered
to patients’ homes.
If you receive a call of this nature DO NOT give out your personal information. Be suspicious of anyone who calls you claiming to be from the government, diabetes associations, or similar organizations. They are not. Although they may claim the supplies
are free, they bill them to Medicare or your insurance provider. In addition, many use the personal information for unscrupulous things such as opening up fraudulent medical claims, to commit identity
theft, and other scams. Keep in mind your Medicare number is usually your social security number which again opens the gateway for identity fraud. Obtain information from the caller including the company they represent, the phone number and address where
they're located, and who is calling. Take notes of the conversation and contact law enforcement to report the call.
In case you have provided your information to a caller, monitor your medical notices and bills for any unauthorized orders, claims, or charges. Look for items billed multiple times and report any irregular activity to your healthcare provider. If unexpected
items arrive you do not have to accept them. Refuse the delivery and return them to the sender. Make sure to record the sender's information for your records to turn over to law enforcement.
Persons with diabetes also need to be skeptical when purchasing testing supplies and medicines from online distributors and sellers. Purchasing these items online may be convenient and sometimes a cheaper alternative to buying from your local pharmacy; however,
the
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions that some online purchases could lead to your personal information being misused, or you may be purchasing items that don't work, are not FDA approved, or may be harmful. There's no way to know if the supplies
are maintained in the proper environment, if they have expired, or if they are the correct brand that may be needed. Keep in mind that test strips that are expired, exposed to heat, or used on a meter other than the one they are manufactured for can turn out
inaccurate results. Some quick
tips for buying supplies and medicine online include:
- Talk to your healthcare professional about medical devices that you plan to buy on the Internet.
- Check out the seller. Do a search on our
BCA website and verify with the FDA to make sure the product has been cleared for sale in the US.
- Don’t buy from websites that don’t include an address and telephone number.
- Only purchase medication from a site that requires a prescription and has a pharmacist available for questions.
- Buy only from licensed pharmacies. Check with
BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy for information on safe and legal online pharmacies and the FDA's Buying Online Homepage for
helpful information about buying medical products on the Internet
Do not fall for miracle cures, exaggerated results, or claims of independent research that the government is supposedly hiding. The FDA issued warning letters to 15 companies who
allegedly sold diabetes products in violation of federal law. The products were sold as dietary supplements, alternative medicines, prescription and over the counter drugs and advertised the products would lower blood sugar naturally, lower A1C levels significantly,
relieve diabetic pain, or replace medicine in diabetes treatment. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. While some products or medicines may claim to cure diabetes, to date there is no known cure. Lifestyle changes including a proper
diet, exercise, monitoring your blood glucose levels, medication, and support can help with diabetes management. To learn more examine BCA’s guide, “How
to Evaluate Medical Claims”.
For more information on diabetes, treatment, and support visit the
American Diabetes Association’s website. If you believe you have been scammed, contact Business Consumer Alliance to file a complaint. Also visit the BCA website to check out the member
directory of pharmacies,
physicians, and other health care professionals.
About the Author:
Nicole Pitts is a Senior Business Analyst and Editor for Business Consumer Alliance. She has been with the organization for 12 years and specializes in report writing, business evaluation, and investigations. Nicole corresponds with businesses regarding
complaint trends and provides suggestions to help them alleviate problem areas that may cause concern. She also conducts advertisement reviews, reports on government enforcement actions, and assists government agencies and the media in obtaining information.
She enjoys reading, movies, and spending time with her family. Nicole can be reached by email at npitts@businessconsumeralliance.org.