Tennessee SMP: Rural Border Counties and Partners
Tennessee SMP divided into 9 districts.
Typically larger cities are in middle of districts
That is where AAAD (subcontractors) are located
Surrounding areas are more rural
More challenging to provide outreach into the rural outlying counties
o Travel time
o Access
o Lack of trust
To increase outreach and exposure TN SMP partnered with surrounding states SMP’s to reach
borders counties with the SMP message.
We are holding joint events and co-branding literature.
42 of our 95 counties touch one of 8 surrounding states
In regards to the joint events, we hold two events.
One event in each state
Georgia, Mississippi
In regards to co-branding literature, we co-brand flyers and healthcare journals
Put toll free numbers to both state SMP programs
Virginia, Mississippi
The justification behind the SMP partnerships, it doubles the exposure to SMP. At each
Tennessee event we have spoke to someone from the bordering state needing SMP’s assistance.
We are able to put them in touch quickly with their state SMP. While they are armed with the
knowledge if one of their Tennessee friends needs to report Medicare fraud, they know who to
send them to.
We also included our partners, SHIP and other local partners (senior centers, media, senior
housing)
In the upcoming expansion grant, we proposed to expand our outreach with surrounding states,
to include Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri; we will co-brand all literature in border counties
with Tennessee and the state that touches them.