Yahoo News – by Dashiell Bennett | The Atlantic Wire
Approximately 150 federal and state law enforcement agents launched a massive raid on one of the biggest perpetrators of government fraud in America: The Scooter Store. Yes, that’s right. The nation’s largest provider of single-person electric vehicles and power chairs is the target of a federal investigation, probably because many of the people who ride around their “personal mobility devices” don’t actually need them.
In January, CBS This Morning ran a cutting exposé on the company, detailing how it “railroads” doctors into prescribing the chair for their patients, most of whom are on Medicare or Medicaid. That way they can bill the government for their highly dubious medical device, while the patient gets a cool new scooter without paying for it, and The Scooter Store makes a nice profit. Doctors and former employees told CBS that the company would harass physicians with non-stop phone calls and offices drop-ins in order to wear them down. The company even has a special department devoted to getting chairs for patients who had already been ruled ineligible by Medicare. No doubt the pressure comes because their ads guarantee that the chair will be free if they can’t get you qualified.
The Scooter Store is so good at getting the chairs that a government audit found that they had overbilled Medicare by over $100 million between 2009-2012. It’s no wonder their ads brag that “No other company will work harder to make you mobile.”
FBI agents would not provide details on any crimes or possible charges behind the search warrant, but 1,200 employees of the company were escorted from the headquarters in New Braunfels, Texas, on Wednesday, and were not allowed back into today, as investigators continue to dig for clues. Police also searched a related management company that The Scooter Store’s sales records.
Unfortunately, the FBI won’t be going after the handful of customers who know they don’t need a scooter or wheelchair, but still want the government to buy them one. Sort of like the people at airports who experience “wheelchair miracles” leaping up and running to their gate after an airport employee has helpfully pushed them most of the way. Officials at Los Angeles International Airport estimate that 15 percent of the people who request wheelchair assistance are faking it, because they want to skip lines and get on board their flights faster. We’re sure most Scooter Store customers are unhealthy people, innocently going along with the company’s promises of getting out of the house more, but the disability fakers are the real criminals if you ask us.
Why don’t they go after all the fat people using the electric carts at Walmart while they’re at it?
I bought my mobility scooter from them, paid cash. They knew I was eligible for Medicare but carefully explained the exact conditions I would have to meet for Medicare coverage for the scooter. I did not meet those standards. It was a straightforward, honest and legal, business transaction.
I don’t have a “dubious medical device”, it is like a new set of legs for me, I can actually get out and enjoy life instead of just watching it pass by.
Before I pass judgment on Scooter Store I want to know what they might have done to make Obama’s enemies list.
Could this have anything to do with them tax cuts? We all know how dirty lowlifed, and cheap that the govt. is and the FBI is a part of the govt. just like all of the other govt. agencies.
I called them expecting to pay for a scooter anyway. They asked me if I was Medicare eligible., I told them I was disabled but didn’t think my condition qualified me, but they carefully explained the rules anyway. I never got the impression that there was a hustle going on. They accurately spelled out the rules and didn’t suggest bending them.
Medicare says if you need help getting around inside your home you might qualify for a chair or scooter paid for with benefits. I do OK indoors, I just need a ride when I have to cover much distance.
And the magic words are “you might qualify”
they probably didnt pay the bribe (political donation!)
it reminds me of a story about the feds raiding a guitar maker with full assault gear because a few computers didnt have valid licenses for windoze.
funny how you never hear of hundreds of FBI agents storming wall st. yelling “step away from the computer”
i suppose they are just too busy doing political shakedowns, assasinations, and training idiots to be failed terrorists.
Thank GOD fender guitar hasn’t figured out how to put a golf cart battery into their latest model guitars or they’d be like Gibson about now with some f#@king new renewable United Nations agenda 21 fascist ge0-engineering-chemtrail-rf-wx-ops climate change global cooling and warming and policing and banking tax law Some sarcasm here, however the truth is, I think it’s not much longer until people start to smash some piece of shit oath breaker’s skull in with a tree limb, crow bar or rock. Surprise! Time to pay the piper bitchez
The FBI should find something better to do with its time.
I can understand their duty to investigate medicaid fraud, but 150 agents for this? That’s a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.