The Senior Medicare Patrol is a trained group of individuals, mostly retired professionals and other senior citizens, who can, as a result of their training, recognize and report instances or patterns of health care fraud. They also are educated as to how threats to financial independence and health status may occur when citizens are victimized by fraudulent schemes.
The SMP program empowers seniors through increased awareness and understanding of healthcare programs. This knowledge helps seniors to protect themselves from the economic and health-related consequences of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, error and abuse. The activities of the SMP program also serve to enhance the financial, emotional, physical and mental well-being of older adults — thereby increasing their capacity to maintain security and independence in retirement, and to make better financial and healthcare choices.
The result of training the almost 2.6 million beneficiaries, counseling over 1.0 million beneficiaries and 97,000 media outreach events? Over $105.7 million in savings, including Medicare and Medicaid funds recovered.
How can you protect yourself from healthcare fraud?
1) Only go to your personal doctor, hospital or clinic for medical help. Only they should make referrals for special equipment, services, or medicine.
2.) Never show anyone your medical or prescription records without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
3) If someone calls and tries to threaten or pressure you into something simply hang up the phone.
4.) If someone comes to your door and says they are from Medicare or some other health care company, SHUT THE DOOR! ….. It’s shrewd to be rude!
5.) Do your homework and talk to your healthcare provider before buying or investing in internet “cure-all” or “miracle” products or services.
6.) Don’t keep mail in your mailbox for more than one day. People can and will steal
personal information right out of your mailbox!
7.) Rip up, shred or otherwise destroy your Medicare or other healthcare papers and other important documents instead of just throwing them away, but remember to record your doctor’s visits, prescriptions, etc., in a healthcare journal Crooks will go through the trash!
8. Treat your Medicare and Social Security numbers like credit cards. If someone offers to buy your Medicare or Social Security number, DON’T DO IT…It’s simply not worth it.
9. Remember that Medicare doesn’t SELL ANYTHING.
10. Follow your instincts – if it seems too good to be true, IT USUALLY IS!
11. ALWAYS READ your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or health care billing statement (Explanation of Benefits). Your MSN & other Explanation of Benefits forms are generally stamped “This is Not a Bill” and come in AFTER you receive medical care. Look for three (3) things on your billing statement(s):• Charges for something you didn’t receive • Billing for the same thing twice• Services that were not ordered by the Doctor.
12. Every State has a SMP look up the number on Google and call!
