AP: Medicare Stung by Wheelchair Scam

[spinbaby]

"WASHINGTON - Fifty separate investigations under way in nearly two-dozen states have identified $167 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for power wheelchairs, officials told The Associated Press, a fast-growing new swindle of the government's main health care assistance program.


"The medical equipment industry has aggressively marketed its electric wheelchairs, particularly in television ads targeting senior citizens. The number of Medicare beneficiaries with at least one claim for a motorized wheelchair rose from about 55,000 in 1999 to 168,245 in the first nine months of this year. "

I always wondered about all those ads encouraging seniors to order power chairs.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/wheelchair_scam

[Don_G]

1. I Believe It

My Grandmother wound up with two and only needs one on occassion.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. sigh

:-( It is not fun to get old and crippled with arthritis and other debilitating things that make simple ambulation difficult. It is not easy to force yourself to walk everyday a certain amount of steps in twenty minutes, while every step is nothing but a painful experience. Yet they tell us to exercise!! It is not fun to know that under Medicare, not much is available to help and your doctor does not give you an appointment ahead of time, but tells you that you must make the appointment on the day that you call, you cannot make one ahead of time-so I call--so I call twice,and even though I call at the very earliest time, I am told that the appointments are all filled up alreadu for the day and so I realize that something here is very stinky-I wonder who exactly is able to make an appointment ahead of time--someone who is richer? and you thought you would be safe and covered in your old age.

Should we, we old and decrepit folks, all insist we be "put out on the ice" as the final solution that would save everyone a lot of money and a lot of guilt? I mean would that be the ultimate in sacrifice for your country? Saving your kids some money? Should we sacrifice our lives in that way because all we see ahead is grief for everyone all the way around? That is, of course, if we are pretty much in the lower income levels. Those who are not, of course, do have the necessary ingredients to get an appointment when they want one.

[The Zanti Regent]

7. The Republicans beielieve in Survival of the Fittest

They BS about Jesus, but they follow Ayn Rand.

Ayn said the sole duty of the weak was to perish...

[Pastiche423]

9. But Ayn never met asscroft

who opposes the Death w/Dignity law.

He has stuck his nose into my state, saying he believes the citizens of Oregon, who voted in the medical marijuana law, should be charged w/a crime for relieving their pain w/marijuana.

YET, he believes those same people living lives of pain, should not be allowed to end their pain via the Death w/Dignity law, that was voted in TWICE!

[spinbaby]

11. Read the article

This was not about people who need chairs getting chairs. it was about people who don't need chairs getting chairs. Or not getting chairs but having Medicare billed in their name. Or getting a cheap scooter while Medicare was billed for a fancy expensive wheelchair. These are the sort of scams that will hurt the people who really need mobility devices.

[Pastiche423]

3. And yet

Medicare will not pay for manual wheelchairs for those that truly need them, i.e. paralyzed people.

Medicare WILL pay $1,100 for a hospital clunker, but will not pay for demos (appropriate for lifetime w/c users) that cost $800.

Why? Because IT IS WRITTEN in the Medicare rules. ?????

As far as the powerchairs and scooters - can you say "lobbyists"?

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[wegottem]

4. terrorist

I beleive anyone bilking Medicare should be guilty of terrorism, Did you know if you are totaly disabled that it takes 2 years before your eligible for Medicare.

[Pastiche423]

6. I don't recall if it was that way

17 years ago. Medical paid for much of my immediate medical costs. (Right after injury.)

Now, Medicare doesn't pay for shit.

Medicare needs to be totally gutted and rewritten, leaving out the perks for lobbyists. Especialy, lobbyists for nursing homes.

[Don_G]

8. It Won't Happen Without

Having a comprehensive plan and overhaul of the drug companies, medical facilities, physician and surgeons and the medical insurance practices without special interests involved in the process.

[wegottem]

5. oxygen

They won,t buy oxygen concentrators but will rent them at inflated rates for as many years as needed. Medicare needs fixed and then all can have it.

[mbperrin]

10. Thank goodness old folks having too

many wheelchairs is the biggest problem the AP can find!

Obviously, Halliburton is doing a great job of economically servicing the vital war for our survival.

Obviously, everyone who deserves a job has one.

Obviously, no one is dying anywhere in the world at the point of an American weapon except those who need to.

Obviously, a pResident who spends every minute fundraising has everything else under total control.

Obviously, all else is great with the world.

What a relief!

Just shoot all the wheelchair makers and the old folks who want one. Problem solved.