Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2012 AOA MP 1202
Apply for HHS 2012 AOA MP 1202
- The Administration on Aging in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Senior Medicare Patrol Projects Empowering Seniors To Prevent Health Care Fraud" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.048 Special Programs for the AgingTitle IVand Title IIDiscretionary Projects.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 15, 2012 and posted on Feb 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 19, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 28 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments.
- Faith based organizations, community based organizations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender LGBT) organizations and hospitals
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Opportunity Summary:
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Projects opportunity is a discretionary DHHS Administration on Aging (AoA) cooperative agreement program designed to reduce Medicare losses tied to errors, fraud, and abuse. DHHS Office of Inspector General estimates Medicare loses billions annually, in part because Medicare payments flow through many channels at enormous scale, which naturally raises the odds of billing mistakes while also creating more openings for deliberate schemes. The program is built on the idea, first tested through AoA demonstration projects launched in 1997, that older adults themselves are one of the strongest lines of defense when they are given practical training and support to recognize suspicious charges, ask the right questions, and report problems through the proper channels. Congress specifically highlighted that seniors often do not have the information or experience needed to spot and accurately report fraud, but that the country has a deep pool of retired professionals (health workers, accountants, investigators, attorneys, educators, and others) who can be trained to serve as knowledgeable volunteers and community educators.
At its core, SMP funds support statewide and territorial projects that recruit, train, and manage volunteers (often retired professionals and other engaged older adults) who then educate Medicare beneficiaries, families, and caregivers. The day-to-day work centers on teaching people to protect themselves by reviewing their Medicare Summary Notices or other benefit statements, understanding common fraud and abuse tactics, and taking action when something looks wrong. Projects spread prevention and identification messages through senior centers, community events, outreach campaigns, and media, with the goal of making fraud awareness routine and accessible rather than intimidating. Because outreach drives questions and complaints from the public, SMP projects are also expected to handle beneficiary inquiries and complaints: sometimes resolving issues directly, and other times referring cases to the right enforcement or oversight entity.
A major operational expectation is strong coordination with the broader fraud control and consumer protection network. SMP projects routinely refer beneficiary complaints to partners such as Medicare contractors, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, state attorneys general, the HHS OIG, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The program places heavy emphasis on documenting and quantifying activity and outcomes, including tracking complaints, referrals, estimated savings, and other results in the AoA data system known as SMART FACTS. This tracking function is not a side task; it is described as a key part of how projects demonstrate impact and keep program operations consistent across states and territories.
The opportunity also sits within a larger federal support structure funded in part by the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) program authorized under HIPAA. Those Medicare Trust Fund dollars are used to strengthen SMP infrastructure and effectiveness through technical assistance and capacity-building. A national grantee, the National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center, provides training, mentoring for newer projects, dissemination of best practices and innovations, and hands-on support for program implementation and use of the SMART FACTS system. In addition, the announcement notes targeted support for a National Hispanic SMP project to improve outreach to Hispanic beneficiaries, families, and caregivers, reflecting a priority on culturally and linguistically appropriate engagement.
From the funding announcement details, this specific opportunity is labeled HHS-2012-AOA-MP-1202 under CFDA 93.048 (Special Programs for the Aging, Title IV and Title II Discretionary Projects). It is offered as a cooperative agreement (meaning the federal agency typically has substantial involvement beyond simply issuing a grant). The estimated total funding is $4,600,000, with an expected 28 awards and an award ceiling of $180,000 (the award floor is listed as $0). Cost sharing or matching is required. The application window posted February 15, 2012, with an original and current closing date of March 19, 2012, and an archive date of April 18, 2012. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities such as state and local governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. The eligibility language also explicitly includes faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, LGBT organizations, and hospitals, signaling that AoA intended broad participation from organizations positioned to reach older adults and run volunteer-driven consumer education programs.
Overall, the grant is aimed at empowering seniors as informed consumers and community educators, strengthening local coalitions, and creating reliable pathways for reporting and referring suspected fraud. The program is equal parts prevention (education and outreach), response (handling inquiries and complaints), and accountability (formal tracking of activities and outcomes), all backed by national technical assistance to keep projects effective and consistent across the country.
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Projects Grant - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Projects opportunity?
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Projects opportunity is a discretionary DHHS Administration on Aging (AoA) cooperative agreement program designed to reduce Medicare losses related to errors, fraud, and abuse by educating and mobilizing Medicare beneficiaries and communities.
2. What problem is the SMP program trying to solve?
The program targets Medicare losses that occur because Medicare operates at enormous scale and payments flow through many channels. This increases the likelihood of billing mistakes and also creates opportunities for deliberate fraud and abuse schemes. DHHS Office of Inspector General estimates Medicare loses billions annually.
3. How does the SMP approach work in practice?
SMP projects recruit, train, and manage volunteers (often older adults and retired professionals) who educate Medicare beneficiaries, families, and caregivers. The focus is on practical skills such as reviewing Medicare Summary Notices and other benefit statements, recognizing common fraud tactics, asking the right questions, and reporting concerns through the proper channels.
4. Why does the program emphasize older adults and retired professionals as volunteers?
Congress highlighted that seniors may not have the information or experience needed to spot and accurately report fraud. At the same time, there is a large pool of retired professionals (including health workers, accountants, investigators, attorneys, educators, and others) who can be trained to serve as knowledgeable volunteers and community educators.
5. What activities are SMP projects expected to carry out?
Based on the announcement description, SMP projects typically conduct education and outreach through senior centers, community events, outreach campaigns, and media. They also handle beneficiary inquiries and complaints, resolving some issues directly and referring other cases to appropriate enforcement or oversight entities.
6. What does SMP outreach and education usually teach?
Education commonly includes how to review Medicare Summary Notices (or other benefit statements), how to understand common fraud and abuse tactics, and what steps to take when something looks wrong.
7. Do SMP projects only focus on prevention, or do they also respond to reports?
The program is described as both prevention and response. Outreach increases questions and complaints from the public, and SMP projects are expected to handle inquiries and complaints, including direct assistance when appropriate and referrals when needed.
8. What types of partners do SMP projects coordinate with?
SMP projects are expected to coordinate with the broader fraud control and consumer protection network and routinely refer complaints to partners such as Medicare contractors, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, state attorneys general, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
9. What is SMART FACTS and why does it matter for this program?
SMART FACTS is the AoA data system used to document and quantify SMP activity and outcomes. The announcement emphasizes that tracking is a key part of program operations, including tracking complaints, referrals, estimated savings, and other results to demonstrate impact and support consistent operations across states and territories.
10. Is data tracking considered optional or secondary?
No. The announcement describes tracking and quantifying activities and outcomes in SMART FACTS as a key part of how projects demonstrate impact and maintain consistent program operations.
11. What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which means the federal agency typically has substantial involvement beyond simply issuing a grant.
12. What is the funding source or broader federal support structure behind SMP?
The SMP program sits within a larger federal support structure funded in part by the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) program authorized under HIPAA. Medicare Trust Fund dollars are used to strengthen SMP infrastructure and effectiveness through technical assistance and capacity-building.
13. Who provides national technical assistance and what does that support include?
A national grantee, the National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center, provides training, mentoring for newer projects, dissemination of best practices and innovations, and hands-on support for program implementation and use of the SMART FACTS system.
14. Is there any targeted outreach priority mentioned?
Yes. The announcement notes targeted support for a National Hispanic SMP project to improve outreach to Hispanic beneficiaries, families, and caregivers, reflecting a priority on culturally and linguistically appropriate engagement.
15. What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity is labeled HHS-2012-AOA-MP-1202 under CFDA 93.048 (Special Programs for the Aging, Title IV and Title II Discretionary Projects).
16. How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding is $4,600,000.
17. How many awards are expected?
The announcement lists an expected 28 awards.
18. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $180,000.
19. What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor is listed as $0.
20. Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching is required.
21. When did the application window open and close?
The application window was posted February 15, 2012. The original and current closing date is March 19, 2012. The archive date is April 18, 2012.
22. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and nonprofit entities such as state and local governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
23. Are faith-based and community-based organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes faith-based organizations and community-based organizations.
24. Does the eligibility language mention LGBT organizations and hospitals?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes LGBT organizations and hospitals, signaling broad participation from organizations positioned to reach older adults and run volunteer-driven consumer education programs.
25. What is the core goal of the SMP grant program?
The program aims to empower seniors as informed consumers and community educators, strengthen local coalitions, and create reliable pathways for reporting and referring suspected fraud, combining prevention (education and outreach), response (handling inquiries and complaints), and accountability (tracking activities and outcomes).
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