Posted on Sunday December 9, 2012
Amigo Mobility’s Jennifer Thieme Kehres was featured on a local news station last night to discuss wasteful Medicare fraud spending in the mobility industry. Earlier this week, FBI agents raided the headquarters of The Scooter Store, a Texas based power wheelchair company. The Scooter Store is being investigated for allegations about false claims submitted to Medicare. The Office of the Inspector General found that The Scooter Store over-billed Medicare by $108 million from 2009-2012.
Amigo has been fighting to reduce wasteful medical spending for years. While the situation at The Scooter Store is unfortunate for those who may lose their jobs, it is a victory for tax payers and people who need access to proper mobility equipment. Click here or on the photo below to read the WNEM TV5 article.
Federal reports have shown that there is a 300 to 400 percent profit margin on power wheelchairs, whereas Medicare reimbursement does not even cover the supplier cost of many mobility scooters.
- Medicare spent more than $650 million on power wheelchairs in 2010
- 6 out of 10 power wheelchairs are found to be medically unnecessary (2011 Office of Inspector General Report)
Jennifer was also featured on John Stossel to discuss the topic of Medicare Fraud happening in the mobility industry.
Related Medicare Fraud Posts:
