The Senior Medicare Patrol project continues to educate beneficiaries about potential fraud and abuse they may encounter. In 2014, the 53 SMP projects had 5,194 active volunteers that conducted 202,064 one-on-one counseling sessions, 14,618 group education sessions attended by 450,720 beneficiaries, and 12,290 community outreach education events, the HHS Office of Inspect or General says in a recent report. The projects also conducted 110,410 media airings.
The OIG estimates recoveries attributable to the projects were $661,333, savings to beneficiaries and others totaled $80,228, and cost avoidance on behalf of Medicare, Medicaid, beneficiaries, and others was $200,598. See the report at http://go.usa.gov/3A4xR