Volunteer

Help Protect Medicare

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) provides an opportunity for seniors to step up and make an impact in the fight against fraud. The dedicated corps of SMP volunteers makes a difference.“The strongest defense against crime is not law enforcement, it is informed citizens,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, at an Administration on Aging-sponsored conference in Washington in August of 2009 during a keynote address to program volunteer coordinators and trainers.

In 2022, the SMP projects had a total of 5,365 total active team members who conducted 18,274 group outreach and education events, which refers to our presentations and events that we attend in the community.
Through those events, the SMP programs reached an estimated 1,000,240 people. In addition, the projects had 246,722 individual interactions with, or on behalf of, a Medicare beneficiary.

Those are conversations that we have with beneficiaries and others. SMP projects recruit and train retired professionals and other senior citizens. These volunteers work in their communities, senior centers and elsewhere to educate Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, family members and caregivers to actively protect themselves against Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse.

Why SMP?

You can help make a difference in your own community. Our volunteers take pride in working to ensure that the Medicare program will be protected for future generations.

‍Learn more about the basics of Medicare and about health care fraud, errors, abuse, and scams. SMP volunteers receive training on the basics of Medicare and health care fraud, errors, abuse, and scams. Once training is complete, they are better aware of the scams that affect some of our most vulnerable beneficiaries.

‍Make new friends and/or volunteer with your spouse or partner – It’s a great opportunity for couples to become involved in their community. Our volunteers participate in bi-monthly webinars and various training opportunities throughout the year. Depending on the area you are in, sometimes you might have the opportunity to work with a fellow volunteer at presentations or community events. We also hold volunteer appreciation events during the month of April for National Volunteer Week.

Become a Volunteer

Volunteers use their time and experience to help peers protect their identity, read their Medicare Summary Notices, and avoid being taken advantage of by scammers. They work one-on-one with beneficiaries, give presentations to groups, and represent SMP at events.

Volunteer Opportunities

Group Presentations

Volunteers are trained by SMP to give presentations on SMP topics to small and large groups. Presentations usually last anywhere from 15-20 minutes and these volunteers may interact with the audience by answering questions and through discussion. We also sometimes host bingo at sites, where we give a short presentation and then follow up with a few games of bingo. We provide all the materials for both the presentations and bingo, including bingo prizes. During orientation, volunteers receive scripts and other materials to help them as they start their journey as an SMP volunteer.

Staffing Exhibits
Distributing Info

Volunteers are needed to help distribute educational materials at community health fairs, senior fairs, retirement seminars and the like. SMP provides all materials for volunteers to use, like a tablecloth, handouts, and giveaways. In this role, volunteers set up a table, provide general information about SMP to the public and answer basic questions.

Community Fraud Fighter Information Distribution

In this role, volunteers share information in community living settings like independent living facilities and senior housing sites. This opportunity is on an as needed basis, when we have materials like flyers, important fraud alerts or newsletters that need to be shared in those communities.

Join Us

Join our effort to help stop Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse in its tracks If you think volunteering for SMP is right for you, please give us a call at 877-272-8720 or email Sunny Lawless at slawless@advisewell.org. You can also use the link below to complete a contact form, and someone will be in touch with you shortly.

Get in Touch

Volunteer Info Pack

States

Georgia
Louisiana
Mississippi
Vermont

Funding

This project in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Vermont is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,177,422.00 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Vermont SMP are programs sponsored by AdviseWell, Inc. and are funded through a grant from the Administration for Community Living.

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