Wisconsin SMP to hold volunteer training in Superior

Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol, a project of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, holds a volunteer training 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at St. Mary’s Hall, 1100 Weeks Ave.

The session is for individuals interested in learning how to protect themselves from Medicare fraud and volunteering to educate other seniors how to prevent health care fraud.

SMP volunteers are concerned citizens, often retired professionals, who empower seniors to prevent health care fraud through outreach and education. The Wisconsin SMP Volunteer Training is an in-depth workshop that provides participants with a foundation of knowledge in three main areas: the SMP program, Medicare basics, and Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse.

After they are trained, volunteers make presentations to groups and/or distribute materials at community events to educate Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers and professionals how to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, waste, and abuse.

Health care fraud is a big problem in the United States. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has designated Medicare and Medicaid as high-risk programs because they are particularly vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse. GAO, an independent agency that investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer money, estimated these two programs made more than $64 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2011.

Since 1997, Wisconsin SMP volunteers have worked in communities throughout the state to educate Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and caregivers about the importance of protecting their personal information, reviewing their Medicare notices to identify billing errors and potentially fraudulent activity and reporting suspected fraud, waste, and abuse.

For more information, contact Kevin Brown, Wisconsin SMP Grant Manager/Trainer at (608) 221-6115 or (800) 488-2596, Ext. 315 or kbrown@cwag.org. Advance registration is required. Additional information about the Wisconsin SMP project is available at www.wisconsinsmp.org.

Tags: community, health