The Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP, programs help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud. In doing so, they not only protect older persons, they also help preserve the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Everyone has a stake in protecting the Medicare Trust Fund. Would you like to be a better consumer and learn about Medicare Fraud and Abuse? Would you like to share with others how THEY can protect themselves from healthcare fraud? Contact Tamra Simpson at 317.205.9201 or your local Area Agency on Aging at 800.986.3505.
Remember to PROTECT your personal information, DETECT errors in billing, and REPORT suspected fraud to 800.986.3505.
Indiana’s SMPs Do More Than Educate
If a Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary is unable to address a problem, the local SMP will work with family caregivers and others on the beneficiary’s behalf. If necessary, the SMP will make referrals to other organizations that can effectively intervene.
Indiana’s SMPs work together within the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s Education Institute. At iaaaa.org, you can find tools to help you protect yourself and learn how to recognize possible fraud:
• Identity Theft Victim Kit. Know what to do if someone steals
your identity.
• Medicare Summary Notice Guide. Learn how to read and understand
your Medicare Summary Notice, the first step in recognizing errors
and potentially fraudulent claims.
• Personal Health Journal. Keep track of your health history, medical
appointments and questions for your doctor or pharmacist.
SMP Resource Site