NORTH CAROLINA SMP PROGRAM

NCSMP PROGRAM

The North Carolina Senior Medicare Patrol (NCSMP) Program is housed within the Seniors?Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at the North Carolina Department of Insurance. NCSMP is a preventive educational program whose goal is to reduce Medicare/Medicaid error, fraud and abuse through statewide coordinated efforts of educational and promotional activities and to encourage reporting of discrepancies by Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries and caregivers to the NCSMP Program. NCSMP抯 purpose is to educate Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare/Medicaid benefits in order to understand Medicare Statements such as Medicare Summary Notices, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Explanations of Benefits (EOB) and other related health care statements. Through this knowledge, a person can identify, resolve and/or report possible billing errors, fraud, abuse and waste to NCSMP.

SMP UPDATES
New! - 2008 Scam Jam Schedule

Did you know that:

19 billion dollars of the taxpayers?money is lost annually to billing discrepancies, fraud, abuse and waste in the Medicare program?
揻raud and abuse?in the Medicare/Medicaid program often times are actually billing errors or discrepancies?
the process of reporting suspected fraud abuse and waste is to contact the provider to seek resolution; to contact their Medicare carriers and insurance companies and to file an appeal by following the appeal instructions found on the back of the Medicare Summary Notice? And if your situation is not resolved satisfactorily, you should contact the North Carolina SMP Program at the nationwide toll free number, 1-800-443-9354?
Remember to:

review your Medicare Statements
protect your Medicare Number
do not be influenced by advertising for services, medications or products that sound 搕oo good to be true?br>
educate yourself about your Medicare benefits
rarely are Medicare services 揻ree?br>
Medicare does not solicit door-to-door

Protect...Detect...ReportContact NCSMP at SHIIP ?1-800-443-9354

This project is supported, in part, by a grant, number 90AM2698, from the Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government supervision sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.

NCSMP PROGRAM

Contact Information

Nationwide Toll Free Line: 1-800-443-9354Main Number: 919-807-6900Fax Number: 919-807-6901Email: ncshiip@ncdoi.netMailing Address:Seniors?Health Insurance Information Program11 South Boylan AvenueRaleigh, NC 27603Mail Service Center Address:Seniors?Health Insurance Information Program1201 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-1201

NCSMP STAFF
RESPONSIBILITY
Josiah BovaField Operations & Western Regional Manager(919) 807-69001-800-443-9354jbova@ncdoi.net
The Field Staff Manager is responsible for the day to day supervision and training of the Regional Managers that are responsible for recruiting and training volunteers in specified counties of the state to serve as health insurance counselors. In addition this position provides management of the SHIIP Western region and serves as Director of the NCSMP program. The position recruits and trains volunteers, provides presentations to the public and conducts outreach events. The West Region covers Alexander, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Cherokee Reservation, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties.
Stephanie BiasNorth Carolina SMP Program Coordinator(919) 807-69001-800-443-9354sbias@ncdoi.net
The NCSMP Program Coordinator coordinates statewide requests for and/or conducts speaking engagements and outreach events; recruits and trains volunteers; develops educational and training materials; receives complaints of Medicare/Medicaid billing errors, fraud and abuse.

Local Contacts
Seven Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in North Carolina serve as North Carolina SMP Program Partners. Their mission is to provide outreach and preventative education to Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries, caregivers and aging professionals within the local service areas. The North Carolina SMP Program Partners are:

Area Agency on Aging/Kerr-Tar Regional Council of GovernmentsHenderson, NC252-436-2040
Area Agency on Aging/Upper Coastal Plain Council of GovernmentsRocky Mount, NC252-446-0411
Area Agency on Aging/Mid-East CommissionWashington, NC252-946-8043
Area Agency on Aging/Albemarle CommissionHertford, NC252-426-5753
Area Agency on Aging/Lumber River Council of GovernmentsLumberton, NC920-618-5533
Area Agency on Aging/Southwestern CommissionSylva, NC 828-586-1962
Area Agency on Aging/Centralina Council of GovernmentsCharlotte, NC704-372-2416

How to Become an NCSMP Program Specialist

Have you ever solved a nagging problem and wanted to share your good news with others? Do you enjoy helping people in your local community through volunteer efforts?

If the answer is yes to these questions, you may be interested in becoming a NCSMP Program Specialist!

Here is what one of the NCSMP Program Specialists has to say about their experiences within the community.

Victor, a NCSMP Program Specialist from Brunswick County, says?br>
揘CSMP Program is a very worthwhile program, especially when it comes to assisting Medicare beneficiaries with billing issues. I have enjoyed the public presentations I have given to groups and always receive positive feedback about the services of NCSMP. One-on-one counseling also gives beneficiaries the opportunity to learn problem solving first hand. People are pleased to know that we are not 搒elling anything?and that our services are free and through the North Carolina Department of Insurance.?/i>

In the ever changing world of Medicare, there is a growing need to provide education and counseling to Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries to achieve a better understanding of their Medicare Summary Notices, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and other related medical statements in order to resolve billing errors. NCSMP Program Specialists derive great satisfaction in helping others also recognize and report Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse.

NCSMP Program Specialists complete 12 hours of NCSMP Program training conducted by NCSMP Program Staff in Raleigh and 24 hours of SHIIP training conducted by SHIIP Staff in their local communities. They also receive regular quarterly trainings so their knowledge remains current.

Here is a glimpse of how NCSMP Program Specialists serve the community?/td>

Provide one on one counseling to beneficiaries with resolving billing issues
Give public presentations to various groups on the NCSMP Program focusing on how to identify and report billing errors, fraud and abuse.
Represent NCSMP at health fairs and outreach events by manning the exhibit booth
Identify and contact community groups to promote the services of the NCSMP Program.
If you are interested in exploring this exciting volunteer opportunity, contact Stephanie Bias, NCSMP Program Coordinator at 1-800-443-9354.