SMPs (Senior Medicare Patrols) work at the grassroots level with the people directly affected by Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. We increase public awareness about both the economic and health-related consequences, teaching beneficiaries how to Protect, Detect, and Report. In some cases, when Medicare beneficiaries are unable to act on their own behalf to address suspected Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, SMPs work with them, their family caregivers, and others to address the problems. If necessary, SMPs make referrals to outside organizations to intervene. 

The Delaware Senior Medicare Patrol (DE SMP) is a grant-funded project through the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). First coming to Delaware in 1999, the grant was sponsored through the HHS Administration on Aging (AoA); in 2018 the Division of Social Services (DSS) was awarded the grant and has been administering the program throughout the state since that time.

The DE SMP team works in three main areas:

1. Conduct Outreach and Education. DE SMPs give presentations to groups, exhibit at events, and work one-on-one with Medicare beneficiaries to prevent, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud.

2. Engage Volunteers. The DE SMP program is a volunteer-based program. Protecting older persons’ health, finances, and medical identity while saving their precious Medicare dollars is a cause that attracts like-minded people to volunteer for the DE SMP program. Learn more about becoming a volunteer on our Volunteer page.
3. Receive Beneficiary Complaints. When Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and family members bring their complaints to the SMP, the SMP makes a determination about whether or not fraud, errors, or abuse is suspected. When fraud or abuse is suspected, they make referrals to the appropriate state and federal agencies for further investigation. In cases where it is a simple error DE SMP can help beneficiaries correct the issue with their health care provider.

Serving the entire state of Delaware, the DE SMP:

1. Partners with aging services and others to promote awareness of fraud, waste, and abuse.
2. Develops and disseminates consumer education through presentations, health fairs, and press events.
3. Provides consumer counseling and services as consumer advocates to resolve billing disputes and errors.
4. Makes appropriate referrals to health care agencies and law enforcement agencies for suspected cases of fraud, waste, and abuse.

As part of the National SMP program, DE SMP works to educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and their caregivers to know how to Protect, Detect, and Report suspected errors, abuse, and fraud.

The DE SMP is proud to serve Medicare Beneficiaries throughout the First State. Our two offices work collaboratively providing presentations, information, and resources in all three Delaware counties.

Contact us today if you would like to schedule a presentation, need a speaker for your health care/community event, or just need help.

Program Director – Barbara Jackson
barbara.jackson@delaware.gov

Education & Outreach –
New Castle Office – 302-255-9642
1901 N. DuPont Highway, Lewis Building, New Castle, DE 19720

Milford Office – 302-464-8654
13 S.W. Front Street, Milford, DE 19963

For Information about Volunteer Opportunities – Barbara Jackson
barbara.jackson@delaware.gov

SMP Supervisor – Stacey Lassiter
Stacey.Lassiter-Wats@delaware.gov