Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Catholic Charities is a partner in the Illinois SMP ("Senior Medicare Patrol") Program. The SMP program empowers consumers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud. We do this by providing outreach and education on health care fraud topics. The Illinois SMP program is funded by the Administration on Aging and is administered by AgeOptions. Please visit www.illinoissmp.org for more information and tools to protect yourself and others from health care fraud.

• Understand the facts about Medicare fraud
• Recognize possible Medicare waste or fraud
• Learn ways to help prevent Medicare fraud
• Report possible Medicare fraud

We are the only agency providing this service in:

• Elk Groove
• Barrington
• Hanover
• Palatine
• Schaumburg
• Wheeling

How it Works

Volunteers are recruited, trained, and supervised to provide community presentations on recognizing possible Medicare waste or fraud and how to report questionable billings.

This program also provides one-on-one assistance.

Request a Presentation

To request a free Medicare/Medicaid anti-fraud presentation, in English or Spanish, call us at 847-253-5500.

Why Should You Care?

Medicare and Medicaid fraud ends up costing you money. Your tax dollars are paying the health care cheats.

As a Medicare beneficiary, you may experience higher costs in the form of increased premiums, co-payments, and deductibles.

Loss due to fraud also prevents Medicare from offering more covered services.

• Durable Medical Equipment
• Home Health Care
• Nursing Homes
• Pharmacies

• Treat your Medicare/Medicaid card as you would your credit card. Never give your Medicare/Medicaid number out over the telephone.
• Never accept Medicare/Medicaid services that are represented to you as being free. If they are "free" they do not need your Medicare number.
• Never accept an offer for free medical equipment. Remember, only your physician can order medical equipment for you.
• Always keep a record of your health care appointments and the services you received so you can compare them to your statements.
• Always report suspicious activity.

For Suburban Chicago and the Collar Counties, contact: 1-800-699-9043 Or call the Office of Inspector General's Fraud Tips Hotline: 1-800-447-8477

For more information or to schedule a presentation call our office at 847-253-5500.