Medicare Lookout is part of an ongoing
federal, state, and local initiative designed
to provide education and outreach to Medicare
beneficiaries to prevent improper payments in
the Medicare and Medicaid Programs.
AAA Role:
The High Country AAA promotes the project
by working with local aging service providers
and SHIIP volunteers to facilitate outreach and
educational activities. SHIIP
volunteers in each county are available to
assist Medicare beneficiaries in:
Understanding the general provisions of
Medicare and Medicaid
Reading and understanding Medicare statements
Recognizing and reporting discrepancies
in health care delivery that may be caused
by simple error, or by fraud, abuse, or waste;
and
Becoming active participants in their own
health care delivery
Why Care?
In 2000, approximately $11.9 billion
dollars of all Medicare fee-for-service payments
were "Improper Payments". Improper payments
result in:
Higher payroll taxes for Medicare,
paid by all taxpayers
Higher non-Medicare health
insurance payments
Less quality health care for
Medicare beneficiaries
What you can do:
Medicare and Medicaid recipients
can benefit themselves and the health care system
by:
Keeping a health care journal of medical
treatments and services
Keeping medical records easily accessible
Understand your medical charges
Guard your Medicare and Medicaid numbers
and cards
Know you health provider and become comfortable
with asking questions
Find help through local SHIIP
volunteers, libraries or the World Wide
Web
Become a trained SHIIP volunteer
If you suspect Medicare
error or fraud, take the following steps:
Discuss the charge with your doctor, hospital
or medical equipment provider
If you need assistance or clarification
in reading your bills, contact a SHIIP volunteer
in your county (if you don't know who the
SHIIP volunteers are contact the AAA or Senior
Center to ask)
If an improper charge can not be remedied
locally, you may call the state CARE-LINE,
1-800-662-7030
Useful web sites:
www.medicare.gov
- Official US Government site for people with
Medicare
www.cms.hhs.gov
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
