Michigan Nurse Stole Patient Records to Commit $1.6 Million Medicare Fraud

Ruby Scott, a 55 year old nurse from Farmington Hills, Michigan, was convicted by a federal jury for running a Medicare fraud scheme. She owned a home health care agency called Delta Home Health Care LLC. Between 2018 and 2021, she used stolen patient records to bill Medicare for $1.6 million in services that were never actually provided to patients. A jury found her guilty of this fraud. If you or a family member received home health care in Michigan between 2018 and 2021, your medical records may have been misused in this scheme. However, this case does not mean your identity was stolen or that you owe money. Medicare was the victim of the fraud, not individual patients.

Your personal medical information may have been used without your knowledge to create false billing claims. If you think you may have been affected, take these steps now. First, request a Summary Notice from Medicare by logging into your Medicare account online or calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

This shows all services billed under your name. Second, review the list carefully for any services you did not receive. Third, if you find services you did not get, report it to Medicare's fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. Fourth, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report as an extra precaution. Protecting your medical information is just as important as protecting your financial information. Always review medical bills and explanation of benefits statements when they arrive. Question any services you do not recognize. Keep your Medicare card secure and never share your Medicare number unless you initiated the contact with a trusted provider. Report anything suspicious immediately. These habits help catch fraud early and protect both you and the healthcare system.