Illinois SMP Fraud Alert - August 24, 2020

Fraud Alert - Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol

August 24th, 2020

Illinois SMP Partner Agencies are

Huge Part of

25 Years of Success

Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol at AgeOptions is celebrating 25 years of empowering consumers throughout the state to prevent, detect and report health care fraud. We work with 15 statewide agencies that help carry out our message through outreach and one-on-one counseling.

The Illinois SMP is headquartered at AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging for Suburban Cook County, and we work with several other agencies to provide information about healthcare fraud across Illinois. Our statewide partner agencies include the 12 other Illinois Area Agencies on Aging:

AgeGuide
AgeLinc
AgeSmart Community Resources.
Central Illinois Agency on Aging
Chicago Department of Family and Support Services - Senior Services Area Agency on Aging
East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Egyptian Area Agency on Aging
Midland Area Agency on Aging
Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Southeastern Illinois Agency on Aging
West Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging

In Cook County, we also partner with:

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago - Northwest Suburban Senior Services
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago - South Suburban Senior Services
Coalition of Limited Speaking Elderly (CLESE)
White Crane Wellness Center/City of Chicago

During the past few months we were able to sit down with (Phone Call) one of our partners, Michael Svete, from White Crane Wellness Center and interview him about what SMP means to him and what his organization is doing their community.

Q: What is your personal history with SMP?

A: I have been the coordinator of SMP at White Crane for 6 plus years and coordinate volunteers in Chicago. White Crane’s mission is to empower older adults and SMP fits perfectly since older adults are training older adults.

Q: What are the most important things you have done with SMP/the volunteers?

A: Supporting our volunteers (who are an amazing, talented group) who really dedicate themselves to the program from everywhere. Each volunteer comes from a diverse background: some have a faith background, some have seen the damage in their community and want to become advocates, and some volunteers feel for older adults from a community focus.

We always provide support for volunteers to be out in the community. We work with adult day services, outreach, Jesus Enriquez from AgeOptions, and partnered with AgeOptions to spread awareness at fraud fairs.

For example, in May 2020, what was supposed to be an interactive, in-person healthcare fraud awareness event over the course of a month turned into a virtual healthcare fraud awareness week. We were still able to share the message but that was a challenge.

Adult daycare services began sending materials out to older adults, so SMP added materials to also bring awareness the same way.

Q: What is rewarding about this kind of work?

A: Each volunteer LOVES to connect and engage with people! They love how they can present information in a relevant and exciting, engaging way. The volunteers always feel like they are getting new information out to the beneficiaries which is what helps drive them, and the majority of the volunteers have been involved for over six plus years. The volunteers are truly the core of the program and are “professional yet compassionate.” I love the partnership with AgeOptions and all the constant new materials that are created.

Q: What do you see in the future for the SMP program?

A: Tricky question because fraudsters are good at manipulating healthcare and thrive at moments like this (COVID-19 Pandemic). Continuing social media and looking into more outlets to access programs online is going to happen a lot more in the future.

Stories will always stay and are one of the best ways to communicate SMP’s message is through stories. How do the stories impact senior’s dollars? Our country’s dollars? We are the gatekeeper to keeping eyes open within the community.

Q: Why is the SMP program important?

A: The SMP mission is STRONG. We are focused on the mission, but the way the program conducts outreach is EMPOWERING! Older adults connect with other older adults and share with stories and information. The volunteers can best educate other individuals because of how they can relate with each other.

I love directly interacting with volunteers. They are inspiring and are all full of energy, fun, and brightness. They are a diverse group (past ministers, lawyers, etc.) and are all volunteering for different reasons, but they are all compassionate.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: What can we do better to support volunteers? They bring a unique perspective to what the community needs and they are always giving their ideas, guidance, and feedback. Each volunteer offers a unique experience. The SMP program allows volunteers to be flexible. The volunteers do not let challenges stop them but the personal connections are what keeps them engaged.

A specials thanks to Marina Silva, our SMP Volunteer Specialist, for conducting the interview. Marina conducted all the upcoming interviews you will see over the course of the next 9 months.

On behalf of the Illinois SMP Program, I would also like to personally thank Michael and the rest of our partners carrying out the mission of Detect, Protect and Report for the past 25 years.Without the hard work and dedication of our partners would not have nearly the success that we have now.

Michael Svete, Associate Director, White Crane Wellness Center

Michael Svete earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and his Master of Science Degree in Public Service from DePaul University. He started his professional career in 1998 as a Project Coordinator for White Crane Wellness Center, a not-for-profit agency that works to improve and sustain the health and well-being of older adults. Since 2002, Michael has served as the Associate Director of White Crane Wellness Center. In this role, Michael has designed, coordinated, and evaluated multiple community-based programs for diverse populations of older adults. He has managed multiple city, county, and state health and aging grants and partnered with more than 100 community-based organizations throughout Cook and Lake County.

Avoid Covid-19 Scams with this Series from the Federal Trade Commission

Avoid Coronavirus Scams - Tip 1: Hang up on robocalls | Federal Trade Commission

Scammers always follow the headlines. These fraudsters have been using this pandemic to scam people across the country. From scammers selling fake COVID-19 cures and treatments to people posing as government officials offering Coronavirus stimulus checks, there is no level these scam artists will not stoop to commit these crimes.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has created 11 short videos on how to avoid scams during the Coronavirus Pandemic. You can find all these videos here.

If you or someone you know has a been a victim of a COVID-19 scam, please call the Illinois SMP Hotline at (800)699-9043.

Have a safe and healthy week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

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This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.