Senior Medicare Patrols empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. Their work is in three main areas:

  • Conducting outreach and education events consisting of group events, presentations, one-on-one counseling and media exposure

  • Recruit and train volunteers and retired professionals to teach and educate Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries on how to better monitor what is paid on their behalf and what to do about identified discrepancies. Volunteers are recruited, trained and housed at focal sites throughout the state at established times to offer assistance on reporting Medicare fraud, waste and abuse and providing education on how to prevent Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.

  • Receive complaints/issues identified by volunteers, Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers.

SMPs are grant-funded projects of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). In Tennessee, the Upper Cumberland Development District/AAAD holds the statewide SMP contract. The Upper Cumberland contracts with the eight other regions of the state to provide SMP services. In addition to AAAD staff, other trained partners across the state include: Offices on Aging, senior centers, low income housing facilities, faith-based groups, community groups, legal aid, TN Commission on Aging & Disability, homeless prevention groups, and retired individuals.

PROGRAM CONTACT

Loni Hitchcock, SMP Statewide Manager

P: 931-476-4144

E: smp@ucdd.org

If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please contact 1-866-836-7677 for a counselor or volunteer in your area. Learn more at www.tnmedicarehelp.com.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If you would like to volunteer with SMP, call 1-866-836-7677.