Partnering with Arkansas Senior Medicare Program (SMP)
Together We Can Stop the Abuse and Fraud
PLEASE READ
Empowering consumers to prevent fraud is essential in preserving the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) media and outreach campaign, will protect seniors from fraud and scams.
Each year, health care systems, both public and private payers, lose billions of dollars to fraud, waste and abuse. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program, works to reduce the incidence of fraud by recruiting and training retired professionals and other senior citizens to recognize and report health care billing errors and suspected instances of fraud.
At present, there are several scams going on in the state of Arkansas. One is a wire fraud, where scam artist will attempt to have a consumer to wire money through work-at-home schemes or fake sweepstakes. Once this money is wired it is near to impossible to recall the wire transfer and get the money back. Another scam is the selling of “Free” Diabetic supplies. The SMP helpline is flooded with calls from Medicare beneficiaries all over Arkansas who are receiving calls from Durable Medical Equipment Supply Companies (DME companies) soliciting free back/knee braces. There are many more scams around the U.S. taking advantage of ours senior population every single day.
RSVP of Central Arkansas has been awarded with a SMP Grant to train volunteers within Garland, Pulaski, Lonoke and Saline counties in central Arkansas. These trained volunteers will help educate beneficiaries in places like Senior Centers, Churches, AARP Chapters, and anywhere senior citizens gather. Materials will be placed in doctor’s offices, pharmacies and places so beneficiaries can read and call if needing help. These beneficiaries are empowered by learning what to look for while reading their Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), by keeping a medical journal on their visits to the doctor’s office, or simply counting their medications at their local pharmacies. More importantly the beneficiaries know to NEVER give out their Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security number(s).
Since August 2012, RSVP of Central Arkansas has recruited volunteers. All volunteers receive Certificates of
Completion after attending a SMP training seminar. The RSVP of Central Arkansas now has many trained and active
SMP volunteers.
