GRADD’s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program is seeking to recruit volunteers in Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties to help Medicare beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud.

SMP volunteers teach beneficiaries how to protect their personal information, identify and report errors on healthcare statements, recognize scams (like illegal marketing, providing unnecessary services, and charging for services that were not provided), and how to report medical fraud and abuse.

“Medicare paperwork can often be overwhelming,” says Leslie Wilson, GRADD SMP coordinator. “Our goal is to educate beneficiaries and caregivers so they can better understand Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and Medicare Summary Notices (MSN).”

Extensive free training will be provided for 11 new volunteers, who will be equipped to provide assistance to at least 1,000 seniors across the region.

SMP representatives are also available to make presentations to area groups and organizations who would like to educate their members.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that Medicare fraud costs taxpayers $60 to $90 billion annually, with Kentucky ranking among the top five of offending states (behind only California, Texas, New York and Ohio).

This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration on Aging, through a grant from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness.

For more information or to become an SMP volunteer, please call (800) 928-9094 or email us.