Senior Medicare Patrol Fights Fraud

Bruce and Phyllis Voigts, of Branson West, both volunteer for the Senior Medicare Patrol. — Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Bruce Voigts started receiving Medicare coverage in February, and although he's well versed in the system, he was nervous.

"It's a whole new insurance system," said Voigts, 65, of Branson West. "It's a change in the way I've been doing things for many years."

See also: How to get the new, free Medicare checkup.

Voigts is hardly alone — nationwide, about 9,000 people become eligible for Medicare every day. More than 1 million Missourians are currently enrolled.

Unlike many of the new enrollees, Voigts knows what to look for when he receives his quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), the list of medical services for which Medicare has been billed. ­ Along with his wife, Phyllis, he is one of the more than 100 volunteers in the Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps people understand their MSNs — and helps prevent waste and identify fraud in the Medicare system.

The Patrol is federally funded but operates through Care Connection for Aging Services in partnership with the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

AARP Missouri has teamed up with Care Connection to offer seminars across the state to help educate Medicare beneficiaries.

The seminars go over how to enroll online at MyMedicare.gov, how to read MSNs and how to use resources such as the MSN "decoders" available on the AARP website. The seminars also encourage participants to become Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers.

Trained professionals

"AARP is very pleased to be a partner in this project because it's something very important when it comes to stopping waste," said Norma Collins, AARP Missouri associate state director for advocacy. "So many people are confused. Sometimes those statements … are intimidating."

Rona McNally, director of special projects for Care Connection for Aging Services in Warrensburg, said, "We train retired professionals to go out and educate within their communities — caregivers and providers — about the potential for Medicare scams, how to find them and report them." The volunteers tell people about the importance of reading their MSNs and asking:

• Did you need that service?
• Did you receive the service?
• Did you see the provider?
• Were you seen on the billing date?

Next: If you suspect fraud. »