Volunteering in the Community
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors and abuse through outreach, counseling and education. SMP Volunteers play an important role in addressing this fraud through presentations, outreach events, and one-on-one counseling. Training is offered at no cost to volunteers.
INTERESTED IN HAVING A REWARDING VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE?
CONSIDER BECOMING A SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL (SMP) VOLUNTEER!!!
During this unusual, isolating, and challenging time … now is a great opportunity to become a Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Team Volunteer in our program here at Agency on Aging South Central Connecticut.
The initial step is to give me a call, and I’ll send an application through the mail. The next step is we’ll set up an interview and I’ll give a short 20-minute slide orientation presentation that gives a general overview of the program. If you like what you see and learn, we can then move forward and decide the best use of your time.
Many who have joined SMP do so for a variety of reasons … but the two main ones expressed … are having the desire to contribute and use their professional skills … and exploring new relationships and getting to know others with similar interests. Senior Medicare Patrol is an important program that assists Medicare beneficiaries and the federal government in the protection, detection, and reporting of Medicare frauds, errors, and abuses. We provide additional training beyond orientation, and it may be done at your own pace, on your own, in conjunction with others, and at different levels as you move up to higher levels of expertise.
Medicare is complicated … and the SMP program gives an excellent education as to what you should have knowledge of … at a minimum. Currently ZOOM is the most user-friendly way of meeting on-line … but we are continually experimenting with the new technologies available. If you have just a telephone, tablet, desktop, or laptop … we can begin working with you on the steps you need to take to join this exciting, meaningful, and necessary program. COME JOIN US!
Kisha
Kisha Hull
203-785-8533, choose option 3 for the ADRC
khull@aoascc.org
SMP Volunteer Roles
The SMP program operates with a variety of volunteer roles. Information about the roles and the responsibilities connected with them are set forth in position descriptions. It is important to know that the screening process is more demanding for those roles identified as “positions of trust.” A position of trust is one in which a volunteer has access to beneficiaries or other vulnerable people; another person’s protected personal, health care, or financial information; or money or other valuables. Common SMP volunteer roles include:
- Information distributor: This role involves transporting and disseminating information materials to sites and events, and may include presenting prepared copy or performing scripted activities for small groups. Volunteers who work in this role do not engage in discussions with others about personal information or situations. It is not considered to be a position of trust.
- Administrative support: This role involves such work as copying, filing, data entry, and placing outbound phone calls in support of program activity. Volunteers who work in this role do not take inbound phone calls or field questions from the public. It is not considered to be a position of trust.
- Exhibitor: This role involves staffing information kiosks or exhibits at events such as health fairs. Volunteers who staff exhibits provide general information about the program to the public and answer basic questions. It is a position of trust.
- Presenter: This role involves giving substantive presentations to small and large groups, with the opportunity for interaction with the audience during time set aside for Q & A and discussion. It is a position of trust.
- Counselor: This role involves direct discussion with beneficiaries, caregivers, and/or family members about their individual situations and may include review of personal information such as Medicare Summary Notices, billing statements, and other related financial and health documents. It is a position of trust.
- Complex interactions specialist: This role involves in-depth, complex interactions with beneficiaries, caregivers, and/or family members who are reporting specific instances of health care fraud, errors, and abuse. Volunteers who serve in this role may act on behalf of a beneficiary to correct an error or refer suspected fraud and abuse to appropriate authorities. It is a position of trust.