Captive and Gouge are both understatements when one considers potential fraud. When one has an undefined medical need due a physical impairment , can a no touch evaluation performed over the telephone by a Sales Tech, take the place of an OT and ATS. Invacare, Pride, Golden Tech and Merit chairs which fulfil a CMS code is shipped via truck to the customers house and the paperwork is signed and returned to the Provider in a different state. The customer signs off, accepts delivery and authorizes CMS to make payment to the Internet provider. The patient thinks they got a great deal fast, the vendor makes a quick sale and a manufacturer sells another chair. Great, until something goes wrong and then..... Best Wishes In a message dated 10/30/2009 4:44:10 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
DME equipment is sold over the internet as is mobility equipment. can be frightening. however some of the mobility venddors know they have a captive audience and realy gouge the heck out of the purchasers. happy halloween all tom --- On Fri, 10/30/09, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Money handling To: [email protected], [email protected] Date: Friday, October 30, 2009, 3:52 PM Amen Sue and I agree with you so much. However, since the invention of the Internet, which is celebrating its 40th year... yesterday, electric wheelchairs are being sold from the Internet with no human contact with the patient. The first contact, is when the truck driver is paid an extra 100 dollars to deliver, unbox and bring the wheelchair into the house and then leave with signed paperwork. Often the enduser much perform some kinds of assembly or use a family member to finish the job. Welcome to the world of the Internet Provider. This is done dozens of times a day for both wheelchairs, scooters and liftchairs used for medical purpose, and paid for by CMS. When there is a problem, the Internet Providers tell the customer to contact the manufacturers. It is really a sad situation that you are well insulated from seeing. Best Wishes In a message dated 10/30/2009 2:49:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Interesting question . . . I wouldn't know because we don't do it that way. We have all of our clients come in for their evals and they are seen by a real live OT and PT, along with the vendor. I can't imagine doing such an eval over the phone - way too many details that need to be seen and touched. We don't even usually let the vendor deliver the chair after we've spec'd it out - we want folks to come back so OT, PT and the vendor can all be there to fit and adjust things. It is amazing how many things come to light at that session .. . Sue ____________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 2:00 PM To: Berres, Susan J *HS; [email protected] Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Money handling Thanks Sue, Now I have a question for you. How can Internet providers sell an PWD (wheelchair) to a CMS client and perform the necessary OT evaluation over the phone before shipping a wheelchair to them and then get paid by CMS. This happens every day.... Best Wishes W In a message dated 10/30/2009 12:54:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Thanks for all the helpful thoughts on handling money! Somebody commented that they thought they teach this (to OTs) in school - yup, they do, of course, but over my 26 years in practice I have always found that I get more and better ideas from folks living the issues than from any OT or any book. I also find that the people I'm working with will often accept an idea better from someone in a similar situation than from me, so lists like this are very helpful. I've printed off all the suggestions and will hand them to him this afternoon. Very grateful for your willingness to share! Sue Berres, OTR/L
