Workshop trains volunteers to spot Medicare fraud

Elderly people are often the targets of scam artists. A common ploy is for the caller to claim they are from Medicare. They tell the elderly person that new cards are being sent out and they need to verify their personal information. Often, before they realize it, the elderly person has given the caller access to sensitive information and bank accounts. Fortunately there is a group whose mission is to educate and empower seniors to fight back against Medicare fraud.

The Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol holds a volunteer training 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at St. Mary’s Hall, 1100 Weeks Ave., Superior.

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.

Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers are concerned citizens — often retired professionals — who empower seniors to prevent health care fraud through outreach and education.

Volunteer training provides an in-depth workshop to teach participants about the program, Medicare basics and Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.

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

For information, contact Kevin Brown at (800) 488-2596, ext. 315 or kbrown@cwag.org. Advance registration is required.

Tags: community, seniors, money, family