NEI3A Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Resource Center - Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) proposes to maintain and enhance the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center (SMPRC, or Center), which it has operated for two decades. The project goal is to maximize the effectiveness of SMP Medicare fraud prevention outreach and education by serving as a central source of information, expertise, and technical assistance (TA). The objectives are: 1) Team Member and Enrollee Education: Consistently and confidentially provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive information and TA to support SMPs with prevention, detection, and reporting of Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse and promote awareness, knowledge, and visibility of the program; 2) Workforce Development: Support SMPs to recruit, train, and retain a sufficient and effective workforce ready to provide high-quality education and inquiry resolution; 3) Operational Excellence: Develop and strengthen the program structure and organization, including processes and procedures, to enable effective and efficient operations; and 4) Innovation and Partnership: Promote adaptable and sustainable processes and activities to position the SMP for changes in the programmatic landscape. The expected outcomes are: 1) SMPs will report increased satisfaction with Center services; 2) Increased utilization of Center resources and services; and 3) Increased public awareness of SMPs and Medicare fraud through media, website traffic, and Locator use. Expected products include public-facing resources – SMP website, mobile app, Locator, toll-free number, social media, and Medicare Fraud Prevention Week; a password-protected online Resource Library and calendar; publications including newsletters and monthly Medicare Minutes; webinars, manuals, self-paced training, and tutorials on SMP content: VRPM, SIRS, performance measures, Medicare fraud trends, professional well-being, and program management; and individual TA and training.
