Volunteer army of seniors is key in government’s fight to stem billions in Medicare fraud

Senior patrol fights billions in Medicare fraud

MIAMI — One of the government’s least sophisticated measures against Medicare fraud is boasting some big success.

The Senior Medicare Patrol is made up of a small staff of paid workers and thousands of volunteers around the country. Senior volunteers are taught to spot Medicare fraud, report it and pass on the word to others.

All told, the patrol is credited with catching more than $100 million in fraud since 1997.

Medicare fraud cost taxpayers an estimated $47 billion this fiscal year. That’s nearly three times as much as last year.