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SMP Partners

SMPs don't advocate for older Americans alone. The following partners help SMPs fight fraud, error and abuse within the health care system and help prevent older Americans from becoming victims of abuse. Partners include:

• AARP. This nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization helps people 50 and over improve the quality of their lives.
• American Association of Service Coordinators. The AASC supports its members that serve individuals, families, the elderly and persons with disabilities in housing situations through leadership, education, training, networking, advocacy and other member services.
• American Foundation for the Blind. The AFB is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources.
• AoA. The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) helps elderly individuals maintain their dignity and independence in their homes and communities through comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective systems of long-term care and livable communities across the United States. It funds The National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center, the SMP program and many other valuable programs.
• Better Business Bureau fosters a markeplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. The website allows you to check out businesses and much more.
• Center for Medicare Advocacy Inc. The Center works to advance fair access to comprehensive Medicare coverage and quality health care for older people and people with disabilities by providing the highest quality analysis, education and advocacy.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS is the United States Department of Health & Human Services agency responsible for administering the Medicare, Medicaid and several other health-related programs
• Federal Trade Commission. The FTC pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement; advances consumers’ interests by sharing its expertise with federal and state legislatures and U.S. and international government agencies; develops policy and research tools through hearings, workshops,and conferences; and creates practical and plain-language educational programs for consumers and businesses in a global marketplace with constantly changing technologies.
• My Medicare Community, a National Council on Aging site dedicated to professionals and volunteers who help people with Medicare
• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The n4a builds the capacity of its members to help older persons and persons with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
• National Association of Attorneys General. As chief legal officers of the states, commonwealths and territories of the United States, attorneys general serve as counselors to state government agencies and legislatures and as representatives of the public interest. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the map and click on your state.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC):  NAIC members are the elected or appointed state government officials who, along with their departments and staff, regulate the conduct of insurance companies and agents in their respective state or territory. SMPs work with their state insurance departments for insurance company or insurance agent licensing information or to file a complaint against a company or agent.
• National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. The NAMFCU helps members deter health care provider frauds, recover program dollars, punish corrupt practitioners and prosecute those who abuse or neglect nursing home residents.
• National Association of Triads. Triad is a partnership of three organizations: law enforcement, senior citizens and community groups. Its purpose is to promote senior safety and to reduce the fear of crime that seniors often experience.
• National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), part of the AoA, serves as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment.
• National Council on Aging. The NCOA is a national voice for older adults – especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged – and the community organizations that serve them.
• National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of Hispanic older adults.
• National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides support, technical assistance and training to the 53 State Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks of almost 600 regional (local) programs.
• Office of Inspector General (OIG) protects the integrity of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs as well as the health and welfare of the beneficiaries of those programs.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, is a national program that offers one-on-one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families.
• Stetson University Elder Consumer Protection Program. This program, at the Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson University College of Law, serves as an educational, informational and instructional resource about general and legal matters in the areas of elder consumer protection, elder financial exploitation and elder abuse prevention.
• United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the U.S. government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
• United States Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces the law, ensures public safety against threats foreign and domestic, provides federal leadership in preventing and controlling crimes and seeks just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior.
  

If your organization partners with SMPs and would like to be listed here, e-mail Maureen Patterson at mpatterson@hvaaa.org.