CMS released the following alert about people posing as Medicare contractors to get information from Medicare providers. Medicare enrolled private practice audiologists should be especially vigilant as should speech-language pathologists who are becoming enrolled in the program.

"The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has become aware of a scam where perpetrators are sending faxes to physician offices posing as the Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The fax instructs physician staff to respond to a questionnaire to provide an account information update within 48 hours in order to prevent a gap in Medicare payments. The fax may have the CMS logo and/or the contractor logo to enhance the appearance of authenticity.

Medicare FFS providers, including physicians, non-physician practitioners, should be wary of this type of request. If you receive a request for information in the manner described above, please check with your contractor before submitting any information. Medicare providers should only send information to a Medicare contractor using the address found in the download section of the CMS.gov Web site found at MLN General Info or Medicare Provider-Supplier Enrollment."

For further information, contact Kate Romanow, ASHA's Director of Health Care Regulatory Advocacy, at kromanow@asha.org or 800-498-2071, ext. 5671.