In reference to the article, “Seniors should refuse ‘free’ genetic tests, cancer screenings” (Star-Advertiser, June 15): We have first hand experience with this scam.

We attended a community health fair in our neighborhood and one of the tables offered free DNA testing. A company representative visited our house, took swab cultures, along with personal medical information and Medicare card IDs. She claimed our family doctor would receive the information (he didn’t).

We spent months trying to get the results and after constant badgering, they sent us an email stating our results were “negative.” Very few details were provided. None of the contact numbers worked.

Meanwhile, Medicare was billed $14,783 and paid $6,490. Taxpayers paid close to $13,000. Not bad for a day’s work.

We reported this to Medicare. After 45 minutes of being tossed around, the final decision: “You approved it so we cannot consider this fraud.”

Medicare needs to circumvent these types of claims, refuse payment and investigate rather than put the blame on us. Until they take action on our fraud reports, there will be no end in sight for government waste within Medicare.

Sara Schnabel

Kapolei

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