FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: ACL Press Office
202-357-3507
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Senior Medicare Patrol programs in 53 states and territories awarded funding
Today the HHS Administration for Community Living awarded new resources to support Senior Medicare Patrol programs across the nation as they continue their work uncovering Medicare fraud and waste. This program is part of President Obama’s work to fight Medicare fraud and equip Medicare beneficiaries with the tools to protect themselves—and help the government prosecute fraudsters and uncover billing mistakes.
“Our country’s seniors, caregivers, and Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers are our eyes and ears in the fight against health care fraud,” said Kathy Greenlee, Administrator, Administration for Community Living and Assistant Secretary for Aging. “Last year, the Senior Medicare Patrol program taught more than 2 million beneficiaries how to look for Medicare fraud, and the funding announced today means that even more seniors will be able to join us in this important work.”
The Senior Medicare Patrol programs organize volunteers who work in their communities to educate Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and caregivers about the importance of reviewing their Medicare notices to identify errors and potentially fraudulent activity. Local Senior Medicare Patrol offices provide assistance when such issues are identified, so that mistakes are corrected and suspected fraud referred to the appropriate authorities. Since 1997, more than 1.5 million seniors and their caregivers have contacted the Senior Medicare Patrol to ask questions or report potential fraud. According to the HHS Office of the Inspector General, the program has saved the federal government over $100 million.
The Senior Medicare Patrol is just one way HHS is working to fight fraud and strengthen Medicare. In FY 2011, a record-high $4 billion was recovered as a result of enforcement activities targeting false claims and fraud perpetrated against government health care programs. The Affordable Care Act toughens sentencing for criminal activity, improves screenings and enrollment requirements, encourages the increased sharing of data across federal and state governments, expands overpayment recovery efforts, and provides greater oversight of potential abuses.
For more information about Senior Medicare Patrol program, visit: http://aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/SMP/index.aspx.
For a complete list of the awards announced today, visit: http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/Elder_Rights/SMP/doc/SMP_Grants_Awards_FY2012.pdf (PDF – 67k)
To find a Senior Medicare Patrol office near you, use the SMP Locator: http://www.smpresource.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=SMP_Locator1
See a list of the HHS Office of Inspector General’s Most Wanted Fugitives here: http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/index.asp
For more on the Obama Administration’s efforts to fight fraud: http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/