WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $160,000 to the Maine Department of Human Services, according to Maine’s congressional delegation. The funding, which is being made available through the DHHS “Senior Medicare Patrol Project,” will be used to help senior citizens identify and report problems with their Medicare and Medicaid billing statements.

According to officials with DHHS, this program has trained about 48,000 volunteers since 1997. As a result, more than 60,000 community-education training sessions have been held. Nearly 10 million seniors have benefited from this outreach nationwide.

To help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries report suspected fraud, the DHHS Office of the Inspector General encourages calls to its hotline. The toll-free number is (800) HHS-TIPS, (800) 447-8477. Additional information about the Senior Medicare Patrol grants program is available online at www.aoa.gov.

Federal DHHS grant to help Maine seniors

WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $160,000 to the Maine Department of Human Services, according to Maine’s congressional delegation. The funding, which is being made available through the DHHS “Senior Medicare Patrol Project,” will be used to help senior citizens identify and report problems with their Medicare and Medicaid billing statements.

According to officials with DHHS, this program has trained about 48,000 volunteers since 1997. As a result, more than 60,000 community-education training sessions have been held. Nearly 10 million seniors have benefited from this outreach nationwide.

To help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries report suspected fraud, the DHHS Office of the Inspector General encourages calls to its hotline. The toll-free number is (800) HHS-TIPS, (800) 447-8477. Additional information about the Senior Medicare Patrol grants program is available online at www.aoa.gov.