Posted on 03/09/2013 3:26:53 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Late Friday afternoon, The Scooter Store's chief executive notified employees that — effective immediately, but “with certain exceptions” — they'd been placed on unpaid furlough.
In an email, CEO Martin “Marty” Landon told employees not to return to work unless they receive notice from the company's human resources department.
The Scooter Store, one of the nation's largest suppliers of power wheelchairs and scooters, had about 1,800 workers as of last month. That's following the announcement in February that it had cut 150 positions.
About 1,200 employees worked out of its New Braunfels headquarters.
The furloughs came a little more than two weeks after federal agents executed a search warrant at the company's headquarters, presumably as part of an investigation into Medicare and Medicaid fraud....
(Excerpt) Read more at mysanantonio.com ...
What you pay for Medicare won’t cover your costs
http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2010/12/31/business/530229.txt
oh well. gimme my stuff.
More Self-Described Conservatives Getting Government Benefits, Poll Says
http://www.fa-mag.com/news/more-self-described-conservatives-getting-government-benefits—poll-says-12886.html
Do you live in New Braunfels?
Viewing both your posts it’s no wonder Obozo was allowed 4 more years to destroy this once great country.
What do these chairs sell for and what were they billing Medicare for them???
“Shame on all of you for castigating something that actually helped our seniors.”
And furthermore, we know that we should spare no expense to help our seniors. Afterall, they’ve lived a long time.
Ungrateful kids, and grand kids, and great grand kids that haven’t been born yet! Why don’t they appreciate our seniors?
All seniors want is things that help them, and to not have pay for it. Is that too much to ask?
I wonder how many of them were all of the fatties I see at Walmart, who use them not because they're sick, but because they're too damn lazy?
I tend to agree.
If you go into independent living facilities most of the people get around with walkers that are inexpensive, functional, safe, and do just fine for normal activities. As a mater of fact most doctors want their patients to get up on their legs and walk around to get the blood flowing.
And as people get older operating them gets a little more cumbersome. I was at a grocery store where some elderly lady was using the one provided by the store and when she pulled up to the counter she proceeded to plow into a half dozen other people waiting in line as she fiddled with the controls to try to turn it off. Finally someone had to do it for her. Luckily no one was seriously injured.
I think these scooters are/were overkill. Most of them were and are sitting in closets shortly after being delivered and the Scooter Store and Medicare knew it.
I worked in a Nursing home/Retirement home facility about 18 years ago. The retirement/assisted living building was well over a quarter mile long plus extended hallways off to the side. Lot's of residents had scooters. This was a private pay upscale facility as far as the retirement center went and they could afford them. Just the same when I go see my sister I'll see a dozen scooters on some days usually about meal time. The Memory Care unit portion? Nope none in there for obvious reasons.
When a person becomes a serious fall risk or can't take walk far but still has mental capabilities a scooter might be wise for longer walks say outside the house or shopping. The decision should be made by doctor and patient. Also the type of floor walked on also means a lot as well. Check out clerks for example stand on padded flooring for a good reason.
For around the house walkers many times suffice unless the person can't take but a few steps. Being able to walk a few steps is one thing. Being able even with a walker to grocery shop is another.
The point I was trying to make in my initial response was that most everything a supplier bills an insurance carrier (including Medicare/Medicaid) for is a lot more than if an individual were to pay cash for the same thing.
I’m not real sure about what the company in question was billing Medicare. I do know that motorized chairs can be purchased by an individual for anything from about $800 to as high as $15,000. The ones I have seen in our grocery store are probably at lease somewhere mid-range from looking at some of the occupants which would require that the construction be pretty sturdy and able to handle a considerable load.
Would so many people be convinced to buy them if they had to pay for them on their own? Probably not. But again, it’s “free” money and no one within the government appears to audit anything. If I were going to buy something to putz around in, I would spend $200 to $300 for a little golf cart. Totally immobile and unable to propel one on my own? I would spend my own money on a motorized wheelchair at the lowest end of the range. I am not one of those people who succumbs to sales hype of “Well, for only a couple hundred dollars more you can get....”.
I do have Medicare insurance but don’t use it and don’t intend to unless I am forced to go into the hospital for something.
Medicare/Medicaid fraud is the cause, no?
And the Winner Is ... Social Security: The 10 Most Harmful Government Programs
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=13871
(#2 is Medicare)
Yes, I live in the City of new Braunfels near the Comal River in a 100 year old House. I follow the politics in this town very closely.
From the Austin Statesman this morning:
The Scooter Store was the city’s biggest year-round employer. In addition to the Medicare investigation, the City of New Braunfels seeks a refund of $1.3 million extended the company as part of an economic development agreement.
“They have not kept up the number of employees that were part of the development agreement,” Pospisil said. “At the same time, we also are concerned about their existence.”
If The Scooter Store folds, Pospisil said several other large companies are willing to move to New Braunfels, as long as there is a building ready for them. She said The Scooter Store is leasing its facilities, which will make it easier to bring in a new tenant if the company defaults.
Some of the tax revenue gained from The Scooter Store was used to refurbish other vacant properties in town, including a former Kroger grocery store.
Pospisil said talks are now being fast-tracked, so furloughed employees can get back on the job as soon as possible.
Employees are not eligible for unemployment because they are not technically laid off yet. Pospisil said the City of New Braunfels remains in talks with The Scooter Store leadership to reach an agreement.
Linkee Thingee:
Sounds like New Braunfels doesn’t think that it will miss The Scooter Store.
Just curious — how much did these scooters cost???
There are 2 prices for every model. 1 price for Medicaid/Medicare and the other for you (RETAIL).
As someone earlier up thread came up with the perfect analogy. How much does a Hospital charge Medicaid/Medicare for an aspirin and how much does CVS/Walgreens charge you for an aspirin, get my drift?
Medicaid/Medicare patients are charged for a new scooter-EVERY 5 YEARS. If said Scooter develops problems after the first year, Medicaid/Medicare is again charged for Repair. In my experience, if the scooter is used heavily (particularly by heavy people), it is utterly useless after 4 years. So Medicaid/medicare is charged (allot) to rebuild scooter (new tires, elect motors, batteries/charger-BIG markup on parts). The old scooter (just rebuilt) is replaced at the next year and usually the old scooter is keep by the customer (notice, I did not say patient), to be sold or given away.
Typically the scooters range from $1800-$5000. of course new tires, batteries, motors, etc... for one of them will run you about (retail) 6.8 million....LOL
What I was wondering...if you know...are the scooter PARTS made in NB or are they assembled @ the scooter store. Just wondering..
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