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Iowa SMP is dedicated to empowering older citizens to prevent healthcare fraud by informing them how to:
1. Protect their personal information.
2. Detect potential errors, fraud and abuse by reading their Medicare Summary Notice of benefits.
3. Report suspected errors, fraud or abuse in order for Medicare and other healthcare payers to recover misspent money.
Healthcare fraud is a multi-billion dollar "business" in our country. Iowans should think twice if they think Medicare fraud doesn't occur in their state. Iowan Barbara Whitney helped Medicare recover $1.2 million in a flu vaccine snafu. Check out our Current Scams section for the latest news in Iowa.
Con artists are skillful in targeting their victims; healthcare scammers know that Iowa ranks in the top ten states for percentage of citizens enrolled in Medicare. They also know that Midwesterners are known to be polite and willing to listen. Check out our Protect Yourself section for tips to foil scammers.
How does Iowa SMP operate? Each state and U.S. territory receives grant funds from the U.S. Administration on Aging to educate its residents about healthcare fraud. Retired volunteers are working around the state giving group presentations, answering questions at exhibit booths and helping individuals investigate and solve healthcare payment errors and refer suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities. Iowa SMP has professional program coordinators around the state who train and assist volunteers and help local citizens solve healthcare payment concerns. Go to the Links page and click on the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Web site to find the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that serves your county; you can call your local AAA or 1-800-423-2449.
Use our Contact Us page to
• Ask for informative literature
• Ask for assistance with a Medicare payment problem you haven’t been able to resolve
• Ask whether an SMP speaker is available to speak to your community group
If you would like an invigorating volunteer position with SMP, see our Volunteer page for more information. You can have the "Power of One" in our grassroots effort to protect Medicare trust funds. SMP programs around the U.S. have saved Medicare, Medicaid, other health insurance providers and beneficiaries $105 million since 1997.
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