(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — There is an easy way to record what happens at your doctor appointments – and it also happens to be a fraud-fighting tool used nationwide.
A My Health Care Tracker is a free resource in which you can take notes about products and services received at appointments and then compare your notes to your Medicare statements. If a product or service you received does not match your Medicare statement, you can contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP, for help. There may be an error or possibly even fraud committed against you.
“SMPs help beneficiaries prevent, detect, and report possible Medicare fraud. They’re in every state and province, including here in Arkansas at the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging, Adult & Behavioral Health Services in Little Rock,” said Kathleen Pursell, Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol. “We educate people in groups and also work one-on-one to help people with their specific situations. Much of the SMP work is done by volunteers, who are often retirees and want to help their peers.”
Why should you care about detecting mistakes or fraud?
• You may owe less money.
• You might be able to figure out, early, if your medical identity has been stolen.
• You could protect the Medicare program for generations to come.
My Health Care Trackers also give information about the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), which provide local, in-depth, and objective insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers.
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud.
Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential fraud and abuse issues. If you need help reading or understanding your Medicare statements, visit the national SMP webpage Read Your Medicare Statements: https://www.smpresource.org/Content/You-Can-Help/Read-Your-Medicare-Statements.aspx.
To request a FREE My Health Care Tracker (Spanish and English), contact the Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol at 866-726-2916 or email [email protected]