Senior Medicare Patrol Hawaii
SMP Hawaii Volunteers: Please click here to access Yahoo login for the Calendar of Events 
Waste, abuse, and fraud cost Medicare billions of dollars each year, and these costs are passed on to both beneficiaries, caregivers, and taxpayers. The federal government is cracking down on abusers but they cannot do it alone, they need the help of all beneficiaries, including you. SMPs also called "Senior Medicare Patrols," are funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging and were created to help beneficiaries to PROTECT, DETECT, and REPORT.
1. PROTECT
Protect yourself from Medicare errors, fraud, and abuse. Preventing Medicare fraud begins at home. Protecting your personal information is the best line of defense in the fight against healthcare fraud and abuse. Here are some ways to take an active role in protecting your health care benefits.
- Treat your Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security numbers like a credit card number. Never give these numbers to a stranger.
- Do not accept free medical services or equipment in exchange for your Medicare number. Nothing is ever free. Unscrupulous providers will later bill Medicare for things you may have never received.
- Remember, Medicare does not call or visit to sell you anything.
- Do not carry your Medicare or Medicaid card unless you will need it. Only take it to doctor's appointments, visits to your hospital/clinic or trips to the pharmacy.
- Record doctor visits, tests, and procedures in your personal care journal or calendar.
- Save Medicare Summary Notices and Part D Explanation of Benefits until you have reviewed them. Shred the documents when they are no longer useful.
- Be alert to people who claim to know how to bill Medicare to get payment even if an item or service is not covered. This is a scam and should be reported.
- Beware of advertising that promises Medicare will pay for certain care or devices.
- Never sign a blank form. Always read and keep a copy of any document or agreement you sign.
- If you rent medical equipment, such as a walker, return the item to the medical equipment dealter when you are finished, and always get a dated receipt for the return.
- Beware of offers of TENS units (battery-powered units that send electrical impulses to reduce pain), nebulizers (breathing machines), non-invasive blood flow studies, "free cholesterol checks, and promises of "stroke prevention." Rely on your own doctor's advice to prescribe appropriate treatment for you.
2. DETECT
Learn to detect potential errors, fraud, and abuse. Even when you do everything right, there is a chance that you could be a target of healthcare fraud. There are a lot of ways that your personal information can be used without your permission. Here are steps you can take to detect potential errors, fraud, and abuse.
- Always review yor Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and Part D Explantion of Benefits (EOB) for mistakes. Access to your current Medicare account is available 24 hours a day. Simply click on www.MyMedicare.gov
- Keep records of your health care visits, services, and equipment provided, significant lab results, etc. The SMP personal health care journal or a pocket calendar is a good place to make notes.
- Keep and file copies of any bills or notices from insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc., as well as cancelled checks.
- Compare your MSN and EOB to your personal health care journal and prescription drug receipts to make sure they are correct.
- Look for 3 things on your billing statement: 1) Charges for something you did not get; 2) Billing for the same thing twice; and 3) Services that were not ordered by your doctor.
- Ask questions -- ask your provider or plan. If your provider or plan does not help you, contact us.
3. REPORT
If you suspect errors, abuse, or fraud report it immediately! You will protect other people from becoming victims and help to save your Medicare benefits. Here are the steps you should take to report your concerns:
- If you have questions about information on your Medicare Summary Notice or Part D Explanation of Benefits, call your provider or health plan first.
- If you are not comfortable calling your provider or health plan or you are not satisfied with their response, please call SMP Hawaii at 586-7281 or toll-free at 1-800-296-9422.
Become a SMP Hawaii Volunteer
SMP Hawaii is a volunteer-based program in the Executive Office on Aging. SMP Hawaii has volunteers statewide that are trained in: Role of the SMP Hawaii Program, Medicare/Medicaid Basics, Fraud Schemes, and How to Combat Errors, Abuse, and Fraud. SMP volunteers complete a 3-day training and become certified to provide group presentations, one-on-one counseling, and education at community events such as Senior Health, Safety, and Wellness Fairs. For an application, please click here and for more information on how to become volunteer, please call Laurie Paleka (SMP Assistant) at 586-7319 or toll-free at 1-800-296-9422 or email laurel.paleka@doh.hawaii.gov
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