SMP/SHIP program Coordinator
June 2nd – June 8th
The Negative Effects of Fraud on:
- The Seniors –
- It causes emotional and mental stress.
- It can be financially devastating to the victim.
- The Caregivers –
- It causes guilt or shame for not being able to protect the senior.
- It can cause doubt in the ability to take care of someone.
- The Healthcare Providers –
- It can lead to financial penalties, loss of licenses, and/or exclusion from federal programs if a company is at fault for fraud.
- It can lead to unfair doubts about the ethical providers in the industry.
- The Community –
- It breaks trust.
- It causes conflict between businesses and individuals.
CAAC’s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Coordinator can help by:
- Equipping caregivers and seniors with the knowledge and skills to prevent and detect Medicare scams by reviewing their Medicare Summary Notices on a regular basis, reminding them to never provide their Medicare number over the phone, and by understanding the most common medical scams occur over the phone.
- Educating healthcare providers on how to speak with their clients on fraud prevention and how to assure their own clients that they will never just call to offer them any type of medical service or equipment. Those orders or recommendations are always made at in-person appointments.
- Encouraging the community to look out for their older neighbors and be vigilant in protecting their neighbors as well as themselves.
What YOU Can Do:
- Learn about scams by reading or watching the news.
- Become a Senior Medicare Patrol volunteer. Our office trains you in how to detect fraud and how to spread the word throughout the community.
- Talk about fraud with your loved ones. Listen carefully to them when they speak about someone new in their life who may appear to be taking advantage.
- Review your Medicare Summary Notices and report any suspicious Medicare transactions to your local Senior Medicare Patrol.
