Scams related to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, are rapidly increasing as the public health emergency develops. Scammers are targeting older adults and those with serious long-term health conditions who appear to have a higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19.

Fraudsters are attempting to bill Medicare for sham tests or treatments related to the coronavirus and are targeting individuals to illegally obtain money or Medicare numbers.

What Can You Do to Stop COVID-19 Fraud?

• Do not give out your Medicare number to anyone other than your doctor, healthcare provider, or other trusted representative.
• Protect your Medicare number and treat your Medicare card like a credit card.
• Never provide your Medicare number to anyone who contacts you through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
• Be cautious of anyone who comes to your door offering free coronavirus testing, treatment, or supplies.
• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know, which could put your computer or device at risk. Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer are up to date.
• Be cautious when purchasing medical supplies from unverified sources, including online advertisements and email/phone solicitations.
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations. If you see ads touting prevention products or cures for COVID-19, they are most likely a scam.
• Do your homework before making a donation to a charity or crowdfunding site due to a public health emergency. Be particularly wary of any charities requesting donations by cash, by gift card, or wire transfer.
• Be alert to “investment opportunities.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning people about online promotions, including on social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19 and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result.

What Does Medicare Cover in Relation to COVID-19?

• Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers COVID-19 tests when ordered by your doctor or health care provider on or after February 4, 2020.
• Medicare covers all medically necessary hospitalizations, including extra days in the hospital for patients who had to stay longer under COVID-19 quarantine.
• There is no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time; however, if one becomes available, Medicare will cover it.
• Medicare also recently expanded coverage of telehealth services to enable beneficiaries to access a wider range of services from their providers without having to travel to a facility.

• This includes access to doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers.
• During this emergency, there are also more options for the ways your providers can talk with you under this provision.

• For Medicare coverage questions, contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at SHIPTAcenter.org or 1-877-839-2675.

Other COVID-19 Resources

• Administration for Community Living (ACL): ACL.gov/COVID-19
• Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center (SMPNRC): www.smpresource.org/Content/Medicare-Fraud-Schemes/COVID-19-Fraud
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): FTC.gov/coronavirus
• Medicare: Medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

How Your Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Can Help

Your local SMP is ready to provide you with the information you need toPROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse;DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs and their trained volunteers help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. It also can provide information and educational presentations.

Texas Senior Medicare Patrol Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP):
Visit www.smpresource.org or call 888-341-6187.

High Sierra Management is making every effort to keep all our residents informed during this unprecedented global event, and part of this effort includes additional information pertaining to the email from your trash contractor yesterday (see below for full notice from WCA). We realize that the email from WCA was confusing to some so here are a few helpful tips during this stressful time.

WCA is currently changing their collection policies to ensure proper and timely collection, as well as ensuring the safety of all of their employees. Their new protocol requires that residents will need to separate their compostable waste from their bulk waste.

Bulk waste is considered as cans, milk cartons, boxes and any other paper or manufactured items. Compostable items are described as solid waste which contains organic matter capable of being decomposed by microorganisms and of such a character and proportion as to be capable of attracting or providing food for vectors including birds and mammals, basically house hold food and other types of biodegradable waste.

However, they have currently suspended recycling services until further notice. Suspended services due to this event will not be made up or pushed to another service day such as recycling. Here is a summary:

• If your community currently has recycling service, at this time it is suspended. We do not have a timeline of when this will resume. Please do not put the bin or cart out during this time and please do not place household trash in the recycle bin.


• On your bulk or heavy trash service days, the limit is two item two items (bag or item). This is for bulk or heavy trash only; this will affect the household waste that is placed in a cart or can.


• For trash that you are placing in the cart, it is a matter of prioritizing your trash, since people are home and probably cooking more, you want to be sure that trash that contains food is a priority over yard clippings (for example).

OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM WCA WASTE: March 31, 2020

Attention,
At WCA, our highest priority continues to be the health and well-being of our customers and staff during an evolving situation. Last night, we learned that one of our drivers has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. As a precaution, the helpers and other drivers who have been in close contact with this driver have been quarantined.

How Will This Affect Your Service?
WCA provides an essential service for the Houston Metroplex and our mission is to provide the best service possible to our communities. For now, our priority will shift to collect the putrescible waste first. This is the material that begins to breakdown and decompose first in the Houston heat.

This means that residents need to separate their putrescible waste from their bulk waste to ensure proper and timely collection. A two-bag maximum for bulk, per home, will be picked on your scheduled service day. WCA/VF Waste Services will not be collecting carpet or construction materials as regular collection related to this event.

Recycle Services:
Effective Tuesday, March 31, 2020 – Until Further Notice
We are suspending recycle service for the greater Houston area.
Please note, suspended services due to this event will not be made up or pushed to another service day.

WCA/VF Waste services made these decisions due to the severity of the conditions, and safety concerns to our community and the WCA family. We thank you for your partnership and for your patience and continued trust in WCA/VF Waste Services.
Please take care and be Safe throughout the remainder of this event.

Sincerely,
WCA/VF Waste Services Municipal Department

Please Note:
If you have any questions, call or email customer service:
Phone: 281-368-8397
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

As a precautionary measure and due to recent recommendations from local and national government regarding protective measures to take amidst the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the Prestonwood Forest Board of Directors have cancelled the April 2, 2020 Open Forum meeting and will monitor the situation to determine when it is safe to resume public meetings. We have also suspended all clubhouse rental activity through the recommended date of April 15, 2020. The situation will be evaluated on a weekly basis and further notifications posted as needed.