Home About Us About The Center

What is The National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center? 

Created in September 2003 with funding from the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA), the National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center provides key services to AoA’s 54 SMP programs located throughout the country including the District of Columbia, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. It is more informally known as the SMP Resource Center or simply “The Center.” The Center also helps the general public find their local SMP project, both through the SMP Locator on this website and through a national toll-free number:  877-808-2468.   

Mission of The Center

The SMP Resource Center serves as a central source of information, expertise and technical assistance for SMP projects. It is a project of Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging in Waterloo, Iowa. The Center promotes the sharing of knowledge and best practices for both the novice and experienced SMPs, provides on-going support and information on issues and trends in health care fraud, waste and abuse, and develops new products and tools for the national SMP network.

In addition, The Center provides general information for consumers on health care errors, fraud and abuse. The general public can utilize The Center for information about the services of SMPs and how to access their local SMP. 

Following are the key functions of The Center:

• Provide technical assistance, training and guidance to SMPs to assist them in meeting the program requirements set out by the Administration on Aging
• Provide standardized resources that assist SMPs in achieving their mission
• Provide SMPs access to easily replicable and proven, effective methods of conducting outreach and education, with a focus on those with limited English proficiency, disabilities or who live in rural areas
• Enhance the method of measuring the reduction or recouping of improper payments through beneficiary education
• Develop educational materials on the topic of health care fraud for use by SMPs
  

Contact Us

Center Overview, Staff Bios