"Super" Seniors Fight Fraud and Abuse

You’ve probably heard your friends' and neighbors' tales of Medicare fraud: scam artists asking for your Medicare card, providers charging for procedures you never had or charging Medicare patients higher rates. Thankfully, in Indiana, there are some "superheroes" on patrol.

No, they don't wear capes. And they aren't members of your typical neighborhood crime watch either.

Senior Medicare Patrol

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a statewide network of volunteers charged with helping you avoid Medicare fraud and abuse. Nationwide, it’s estimated that Medicare and Medicaid fraud and elder abuse costs taxpayers $60 billion a year, so the work SMP is doing not only helps seniors, but also taxpayers who eventually shoulder the burden of these expenses. SMP staff and their highly trained volunteers conduct outreach to Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers and the professionals that serve them in their communities through group presentations, exhibiting at community events, answering calls to the SMP help lines and one-on-one counseling. Most SMP volunteers are retired Medicare beneficiaries and thus well-positioned to assist their peers. Their primary goal is to teach beneficiaries how to protect their personal identity, identify and report errors in health care bills, and spot deceptive health care practices.

Reporting Fraud and Abuse

If you suspect that you are a victim of fraud, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging by calling (800) 986-3505. The Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers in your area will help you take action to prevent, detect or report Medicare fraud and abuse. Additionally, SMP is always looking for more volunteers. You can join by contacting the Area Agency on Aging or calling the SMP office directly at (317) 205-9201. For more information or to report potential Medicare fraud or abuse, please call (800) 986-3505 or visit the Indiana Senior Medicare Patrol website. You can also find SMP on Facebook.

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