The grant was announced by the Governor at a press conference on September 24. ACJF President Gibson Vance and president-elect of the ALAJ, the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services and a representative from the U.S. Administration on Aging also spoke at the announcement held at the Capitol.

“Medicare fraud is a terrible injustice, one that preys upon Alabama’s precious senior citizens,” Gibson said. “Injustice in any form is wrong, but the members of the Alabama Association for Justice and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation feel a special calling when that wrong is committed against the young or the elderly, who are all too often helpless, in defending themselves.” 

The campaign is a project of the Department of Senior Services that will send a strong message warning those with Medicare to beware of prevalent scams targeting their age group.  The Department will be joined by local Agencies on Aging located throughout the state and over 350 volunteers specifically trained to provide individual assistance to Medicare recipients.  Members of ALAJ will also be joining in the efforts at the local level to warn the public about these scams.  The campaign will also involve an extensive network of faith based and community organizations as well.

The grant funds will be used to purchase 100,000 Medicare Protection Toolkits that will provide invaluable information for seniors and serve as the primary catalyst of the campaign.  The grant funds will also pay for the production of a PSA that will reach seniors and their families about the risk of fraud.

For widespread examples of the fraud and abuse occurring in Alabama, click here.

To obtain the Medicare Protection Toolkits, visit www.AlabamaAgeline.gov
or call 1-800-AGELINE.