Rumor Control

Posted: March 25, 2020

Rumor Control

Medicare Fraud

• Iowans can contact Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol for information about scams and to report Fraud. Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol is housed in the Iowa Insurance Division. https://shiip.iowa.gov/smp/

Fake Test Kits and Cures

• Iowans should look to official sources for information on testing and medications currently available for COVID-19. If it sounds too good to be true it most likely is.
• The FDA has information on test kit fraud and vaccine and treatment development.  Kits: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-alerts-consumers-about-unauthorized-fraudulent-covid-19-test-kits Overall Website: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

FEMA Website

FEMA R7 public affairs staff made us aware of a rumor control page being done by their HQ. Here’s a link https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control

FEMA also provides other great resources like fact sheets: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus

SPANISH: https://www.fema.gov/es/coronavirus

Federal Coronavirus Site: https://www.coronavirus.gov/

Other Websites

The CDC also addresses this on their site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/share-facts.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fshare-facts.html

Medicare Scams and Fraud information: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

FDA Fraudulent COVID-19 kits Information:  https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-alerts-consumers-about-unauthorized-fraudulent-covid-19-test-kits