The Senior Medicare Patrol is training community volunteers to help consumers protect themselves from fraud and abuse.
Estimates of the costs involved in healthcare fraud range in the billions of dollars, according to a press release from the Peninsula Agency on Aging. The goal of the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program, organized by the Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging, is to reduce errors, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare system. The program needs local volunteers to help seniors in the Historic Triangle.
“Volunteers are the heart of the SMP Program as it capitalizes on the wealth of experience that seniors and other volunteers have to offer,” according to the release. “SMP volunteers act as liaisons in the Medicare beneficiary community by empowering caregivers and seniors to identify, prevent, and report instances of Medicare fraud.”
SMP volunteers and SMP staff help consumers receive much-needed information and support to help seniors become be their own advocates to protect themselves from fraud and abuse.
In the Historic Triangle, volunteers can be involved with the SMP Program by assisting with community outreach and education activities. SMP volunteers liaison with caregivers and seniors by:
- distributing information in the community (Community Advocate);
- making presentations to selected groups in the community (Community Educator); and/or
- identifying and coordinating appropriate groups in the community for informational distribution and educational presentations by volunteers (Community Coordinator).
Volunteers have the opportunity to gain knowledge about Medicare benefits and current scams, help others prevent and detect fraud and abuse, and protect taxpayer dollars. Only one training session is required.
SMP Foundations volunteer training will be held at the offices of the Peninsula Area Agency on Aging. The first will be Feb. 8, at the Williamsburg office at 312 Waller Mill Road, Suite 105. The second session will be held on Friday, Feb. 15, at the Newport News location. Those interested should register by Jan. 30.
To register or for more information, contact the SMP Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Siford either online at www.virginiasmp.org, by emailing her at [email protected] or by calling 800-938-8885.
