Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging Awarded SMP Resource Center and SHIP Technical Assistance Center Grants

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) has been awarded two three-year grants from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to continue operating both the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Resource Center and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Technical Assistance Center (SHIP TA Center).

The SMP Resource Center (www.smpresource.org) serves the 54 national SMP programs. It promotes national visibility for the SMP program and helps the general public locate their state SMP project. SMPs empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse.

The SHIP TA Center (www.shiptacenter.org) provides training, technical assistance, and promotional activities to support the 54 national SHIP projects. SHIPs provide unbiased help to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers.

With this grant, NEI3A will continue to serve as the central source of information about the SMP and SHIP programs and provide educational materials and tools to help them achieve their missions. NEI3A partners with such organizations as the Medicare Rights Center, the National Health Care Anti-fraud Association, ADvancing States, and the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

“We’re grateful to the federal government for entrusting NEI3A with these important missions,” said NEI3A CEO Greg Zars. “NEI3A’s core values stem from helping older individuals – whether they live in the 18 counties we serve in Iowa or anywhere the SHIP or SMP programs reach.”

NEI3A (www.nei3a.org) has operated the SMP Resource Center since 2003 and the SHIP TA Center since 2014. It is a private, not-for-profit corporation serving Northeast Iowa. NEI3A coordinates services for older individuals, caregivers, and people with disabilities to maintain the independence they desire. Services include option counseling, case management, meal programs, caregiver support, respite services, evidence-based health programs, advocacy, and recreation and education programs.

 

 

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