Arlington County’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program
(VICAP) provides free, unbiased, one-on-one insurance counseling to Arlington County Medicare Beneficiaries, their families, friends and caregivers.
Statewide Recognition
The Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s (V4A) Senior Medicare Patrol Program empowers individuals on ways to prevent, detect, and report fraud, errors, and abuse in the Medicare system. The success of V4A’s SMP Program is hinged upon its partnership between the SMP statewide office and 25 Area Agencies on Aging. Arlington’s VICAP Program was selected as 1 out of 15 AAA’s who collectively educated and empowered over 50,000 Medicare Beneficiaries in the last grant cycle!
Key Stats About Virginia’s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program:
- 135 Paid and Volunteer SMP Team Members
- Over 22K team hours contributed
- Over 580 Group events conducted
- Over 18K beneficiaries seen in 1-on-1 counseling sessions
Learn more about the work VICAP and Virginia’s SMP Programs are doing to inform, educate and empower older adults and persons with disabilities about fraud, waste, and abuse.
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Aging Well with Arlington’s Programs,
Services and Resources!
Monday, May 18th | 11AM – 12:30PM
Location: Virtual
Join representatives from Arlington County’s Area Agency on Aging, Arlington’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), and Arlington’s 55+ Program to learn how Arlington’s programs, services and resources benefit the community! Each program serves to promote the maximum level of independence of persons 60 and older and ensure that older Arlington residents live as an integral part of society, with dignity and with access to programs and services that meet their needs and preferences. We look forward to seeing you there!
Register one of two ways by Sunday, May 17th:
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Celebrating Older Americans Month:
Champion Your Health
Celebrated every May, Older Americans Month (OAM) is led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Established in 1963, OAM is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving older adults in our communities.
This year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages older adults to take an active role in their health — advocating for themselves, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence.
This Older Americans Month, communities and individuals alike can take steps to champion health and advance healthy aging.
How can community groups, businesses, and organizations mark OAM?
- Promote OAM through newsletters, meetings, and social media channels.
- Invite community members to share stories and reflections using #ChampionYourHealth.
- Highlight practical tips and trusted resources that support prevention and healthy aging.
- Elevate local programs and events that help older adults stay healthy, active, and engaged.
How can individuals take charge of their health at every age?
- Stay up to date on preventive care and screenings.
- Build and maintain social connections that support emotional well-being.
- Choose nutritious, minimally processed foods.
- Incorporate regular physical activity to maintain strength and mobility.
- Practice daily habits that support mental health and resilience.
Visit acl.gov for additional resources.
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CMS Announces Manufacturer Participation in Third Cycle of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
CMS recently announced that the drug companies that manufacture the 15 drugs payable under Medicare Part B and/or covered under Medicare Part D selected for the third cycle of negotiations in the Negotiation Program have chosen to participate. Additionally, the drug company that manufactures the one drug selected for renegotiation will participate in the program. Click here to view the drug companies that manufacture the 15 drugs selected for the third cycle.
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Identity Theft and Fraud Can Be Devastating.
Here's How to Avoid It
Virginia SMP | March 30, 2026
A federal judge called the case “Kafkaesque.” In January 2025, Matthew David Keirans, 59, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on federal charges of aggravated identity theft and making false statements. But this was no ordinary identity theft case: Keirans had so thoroughly assumed the identity of his victim, William Woods, whom he’d met years earlier, that Woods was accused of and charged with taking his identity. Woods had told his bank that an impostor was racking up debt in his name (Keirans had obtained loans worth about $250,000), so the police called Keirans, who sent fake ID documents that convinced the police that he was Woods, and the real Woods was arrested for fraud. Later, when Woods insisted that he was the real Woods, a disbelieving judge sent him to a psychiatric hospital. CONTINUE
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Dear VICAP Team,
Does Medicare cover depression screenings?
What emergency and ambulance services does Medicare cover?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Medicare Part B covers an annual depression screening, even if you don’t have symptoms. The screening must be done in a primary care setting, such as your doctor’s office; Medicare does not cover screenings done in hospitals, emergency rooms, or skilled nursing facilities.
The screening involves a brief questionnaire completed by you or with your provider. If results suggest a risk for depression, your provider will evaluate further and may refer you for follow‑up care.
Screenings are usually done during a regular office visit, though they can be scheduled separately. While your provider must review your mental health risk during your Welcome to Medicare or first Annual Wellness Visit, a formal depression screening is not required during those visits.
If you’re eligible, Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans cover depression screenings at no cost when provided by a participating or in‑network provider. However, if diagnostic tests or treatment are needed during or after the screening, standard Medicare cost‑sharing applies. Click here to learn more about Medicare covered mental health services.
 Interested in joining our team? Click here to complete an online volunteer application or contact the Arlington County VICAP team by phone or email:
703-228-1725
MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0064, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy
Visit our website to learn more.
Use the QR code or click here.
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