Our program brochure gives basic information about healthcare fraud and the SMP program.
Illinois SMP Brochure – English (PDF) – Updated May 2019
We also have SMP brochures available in non-English languages
The following are scams or issues that have been trending on the SMP fraud hotline.
COVID-19 Scams
English Tip Sheet (PDF)
Spanish Tip Sheet (PDF)
Genetic Testing Scam – Genetic Testing is Never Free Tip Sheet
English Tip Sheet (PDF)
Spanish Tip Sheet (PDF)
Opioid Crisis Tip Sheet- Combat Opioid Misuse and Abuse
English Tip Sheet (PDF)
Spanish Tip Sheet (PDF)
Reading your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits is a great way to detect potential fraud or errors. This updated handout summarizes what to look for when reviewing your MSN and includes examples of the newly redesigned MSN available in 2013:
Handout
How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) – English (PDF)
How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) – Spanish (PDF)
PowerPoint
How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) – English (PowerPoint)
The following tip sheet explains in Spanish why the MSN is important and how to get your MSN in Spanish by calling 1-800-MEDICARE
How to Get Your MSN in Spanish (Obtenga su Resúmen de Medicare (MSN) en Español llamando al 1-800-MEDICARE) Tip Sheet (PDF, Spanish Only) NEW
SMP Comic
El Sr. Gómez Aprende Sobre el Fraude de Medicare (Spanish) (PDF) is a Spanish comic that follows the story of Mr. Gomez as he meets a fraudulent home health marketer, attends an SMP presentation, learns how to get his MSN in Spanish, and reports fraud to SMP.
“Mr. Gomez Learns About Medicare Fraud” (English Translation of Comic) (PDF)
Illinois SMP Fraud BINGO/Loteria Game
BINGO/Loteria game words and questions (in English and Spanish)
(To play the SMP BINGO or Loteria game, print a copy of these questions and read them and the corresponding answers aloud. Have participants find the answers on their BINGO/Loteria card – see links above for cards.)
SMP Word Search Puzzles from Catholic Charities
(The SMP Coordinator at South Suburban Senior Services of Catholic Charities created the two SMP fraud word search puzzles below.)
The SMP program produces healthcare tracking journals that you can use to take notes on their doctor appointments, hospital visits, prescription drugs, etc. Compare your notes to the claims listed on your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits!
The Illinois SMP program has produced tip sheets and PowerPoint presentations with information on health care and fraud, and steps that Medicare beneficiaries can take to Protect themselves from, Detect, and Report healthcare fraud:
Illinois SMP General Fraud PowerPoint Presentation
The SMP Program: Protect Yourself from Healthcare Fraud – English (PowerPoint) – Updated April 2019
El Programa SMP: Protéjase Contra el Fraude en el Cuidado de Salud (The SMP Program: Protect Yourself from Healthcare Fraud) – Spanish (PowerPoint) – Updated April 2019
General Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Tips/Information Tip Sheets
Tip Sheets
Medicare and Home Health Care: Your Road to Recovery (PDF) – English tip sheet on the basics of Medicare’s home health benefit and tips to avoid fraud (New as of September 2017). The spanish version of this flyer is here.
PowerPoints
PowerPoint: Home Health – Medicare and Home Health Fraud
Information on what home health services Medicare covers, who qualifies for those services, and fraud schemes related to home health.
PowerPoint: Home Health – Medicare and Home Health Fraud (SPANISH)
Home Health Explanation and Infograph
Home Health and Medicare Fraud: An Explanation (4-page PDF)
Home Health and Medicare Fraud: A Visual Summary (1-page PDF)
Tip Sheets
PowerPoints
PowerPoint: Medicare and Durable Medical Equipment Fraud
This presentation includes information on Medicare coverage of durable medical equipment and Medicare’s rules for durable medical equipment suppliers, as well as information on fraud schemes involving durable medical equipment in Illinois.
PowerPoint: Medicare and Durable Medical Equipment Fraud (SPANISH)
Tip Sheets
PowerPoints
PowerPoint: Insurance Plan Marketing – Protect Yourself From Fraud!
Information on Medicare’s rules regarding Part D and Medicare Advantage plan marketing.
PowerPoint: Insurance Plan Marketing (SPANISH)
(same as above in Spanish)
Ask the Right Questions Form
This form has questions to ask an insurance agent when considering a private insurance plan like Part D or Medicare Advantage.
Ask the Right Questions – English (PDF)
Ask the Right Questions – Spanish (PDF)
Illinois SMP Tip Sheet: Medicare, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Fraud (English)
Illinois SMP Tip Sheet: Medicare, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Fraud (English Larger Print)
PowerPoints
PowerPoint: Medicare, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Fraud
Presentation on when Medicare covers skilled nursing facility services, Medicare beneficiaries’ rights in a skilled nursing facility, and fraud issues in skilled nursing care.
Illinois SMP Tips to Take With You to the Hospital (English)
Illinois SMP Health Care Reform Scams Tip Sheet (English)
SAGE SMP Materials Targeting LGBT Medicare Beneficiaries:
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) received a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) to develop health care fraud prevention tools and resources for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bixsexual, and transgender) older adults and the professionals working LGBT individuals. For more information and resources, visit http://www.lgbtagingcenter.org.
Here are the SAGE SMP tip sheets for Medicare beneficiaries with Illinois SMP contact information
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults & Medicare Fraud Prevention
Transgender Older Adults & Medicare Fraud Prevention
Illinois Attorney General’s Silver Beat Program Tip Sheets
In partnership with AgeOptions and the Illinois SMP program, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Silver Beat program provides outreach and education to seniors on a variety of fraud issues. Here are a few of their helpful tip sheets on consumer fraud issues:
The Illinois SMP Program created the following advertisements to get the word out about fraud and volunteering with SMP. (Please contact the SMP Program at (800)699-9043 if you would like to use these ads in your publication. We have higher quality files that we can share.)
General Fraud Ad
English Version (JPEG)
Spanish Version (JPEG)
Volunteer Ad
English Version (JPEG)
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 with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.