Press Releases

Congressman Thompson ANNOUNCES $100,000 awarded to the Mississippi Department of Human Services

For Immediate Release                  Contact: Sherrina Dixon

November 23, 2011                                     601-866-9003

Congressman Thompson ANNOUNCES $100,000 awarded to the Mississippi Department of Human Services

BOLTON, MISSISSIPPI – Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Mississippi Department of Human Services for the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program.  The SMP program is operated by the Administration on Aging in close relationship with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and HHS Office of Inspector General.  The 2011 grant will provide additional funds for SMPs to increase awareness among Medicare beneficiaries about how to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud.

The SMP is just one way HHS is working to fight fraud and strengthen Medicare.  In FY2010, more than $4 billion was returned to the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and others as a result of enforcement activities targeting false claims and fraud perpetrated against government health care programs.