Important Notice: Possible Medicare Scam

Three Rivers Hospital has received reports that some community members are receiving scam phone calls appearing to come from our main number, (509) 689-2517. In these calls, the caller falsely claims to be contacting individuals about Medicare.

Please be aware that while our billing department may contact patients regarding their hospital bills, we are not affiliated with Medicare and will never call to discuss Medicare benefits.

If you receive a call from our number that seems suspicious, we recommend hanging up and calling us directly at (509) 689-2517. Ask to speak with a member of our billing department, who can verify whether we attempted to contact you.

Your security and peace of mind are important to us. Thank you for your vigilance.

More About Medicare Scams

Scam calls pretending to be from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are a common tactic used by fraudsters to obtain personal information or financial details. These calls often involve requests for sensitive information like Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank account details, or they may threaten coverage cancellation if information isn’t provided immediately.  

Here’s how to identify and protect yourself from these scams: 

  1. Don’t Trust Caller ID: Scammers can spoof their caller ID to make it appear as if they’re from a legitimate organization like CMS. 
  1. Be Wary of Unsolicited Calls: CMS will never call you unprompted to ask for personal or financial information. 
  1. Watch Out for Pressure Tactics: Scammers often use high-pressure sales tactics or threats to encourage you to act quickly and provide information. 
  1. Avoid Providing Sensitive Information: Never share your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank account information, or other personal details with unsolicited callers. 
  1. Verify Claims Directly: If you receive a call claiming to be from Medicare, hang up and verify the information with CMS directly using official contact numbers or websites. 
  1. Be Mindful of Free Offers: Scammers may offer “free” services or benefits in exchange for personal information. 
  1. Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam call, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Report a Suspected Scam

To report a Medicare scam call, you can contact Medicare’s fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or contact the Washington State Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).