This came from the Friday Report of HME Today. I thought it would be of interest to some of the Forum Folk. One may subscribe to this e-mail newsletter free, as I did.
Here is the link to the actual article, should one wish to visit the actual site:
Link to the HME Friday Report on DME Providers Being Profiled by the Media
The actual article on the site contains links within the text that did not transfer, so it may be of interest to follow some of those.
NBC Nightly News Joins the Fray
After reports on National Public Radio and the New York Times, the industry will get another dose of scrutiny next week in the form of national network news coverage on NBC. The first of a two-part series on Medicare fraud is scheduled to air on Monday (Dec 10), with part two likely on Dec 11. Originally scheduled to air on Wednesday, Dec 5, the segment was probably bumped due to coverage of the tragic mall shooting in Omaha, Neb.
While a preview of the segment from NBC News correspondent Mark Potter suggests the story could be highly negative, officials from the Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (representing Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma) are optimistic. “We do not know what slant the story will take, but we are somewhat encouraged that the NBC correspondent working on the piece, Mark Potter, located and interviewed sister organization, Florida Association of Medical Equipment Services (FAMES) President Raul Lopez,” said a MESA e-mail blast to members. “Mr. Potter also toured and filmed Mr. Lopez’s place of employment, Bayshore Dura Medical, as representative of an ethical HME company.”
The preview on the MSNBC Web site starts with phrases such as “an outrageous $60 billion a year pilferage of America’s social safety net,” and goes on to describe a man running “a crooked medical supply company” in Florida who eventually meets his death due to alligator attack after attempting to evade authorities. “As outlandish and unbelievable as that story was,” continues Potter, “it actually pales in comparison to the reality of the brazen, organized and widespread looting of Medicare, which seems all-too-easy prey for criminals hiding behind phony medical supply companies and clinics.
