Scooter Store's staff on furlough (1,800 jobs)

The San Antonio Express-News ^ | March 9, 2013 | Patrick Danner

[2ndDivisionVet]

Who wrote the legislation that allowed these “give-away” programs to happen in the first place? I doubt it was the people at the Scooter Store or the companies you referenced. And no, I’ve never dealt with Medicare or Medicaid. My mother has TriCare, I utilize the Veterans Affairs system and my wife has private insurance through her company.

[cva66snipe]

Most facilities will allow family to bring in clothes and take patients clothes home to wash them. To do the patients personal laundry in a 200 bed facility requires hiring about 2-4 workers. You don't want their clothes ran through the facilities linen machines the clothing won't last long. Very, very, high temp washing and very strong detergent. They use regular washing machines for patients personal clothing usually.

I have a sister living in a memory care unit. Mom and I take her clothes, underpads in etc. We mark every piece of clothing too. If she needs to go to the hospital due to a fall they call me first. Otherwise that's $1200 round trip ambulance form the county ambulance service. The hospital is five blocks away BTW.

Wally World is a lot cheaper on stuff than nursing homes or assisted living providing supplies in house so we go that route. Still the monthly bill is almost $5K. Medicare nor Medicaid covers assisted living but they cover a nursing home and we're trying to stall that as long as we can. They do cover the meds and physical therapy though.

[catnipman]

” I see the same ones Medicaid pays for on Craigslist for a 1/10th what taxpayers paid for them. “

That’s because almost any one who wants one can get a brand new one for free from Uncle Sam.

[poobear]

Sorry to hear about your ailments. I had severe osteo-arthritis and hip necrosis. New hip, new knee over the last 18 months. I’m at the gym 3 days a week and ride a bike about 80 miles a week. I hope you find some relief. Pain sucks!

[DuncanWaring]

You come across as a big-government thug who enthusiastically supports Larceny By Government.

[joe fonebone]

You can get your scooter “AT no cost to you”...

that is right because I pay for it...

why are my tax dollars paying for a 3000 dollar wheelchair?

[hattend]

Get a scooter at little to no cost to you.

Mediscare abuse? probably.

[DuncanWaring]

So your position is that we shouldn’t say anything our opponents find disagreeable?

That makes you the head of Vichy FR.

[Uncle Chip]

The Scooter Store should have been reined in and their officers frog marched to prison years ago. Everyone in the industry knew they were scamming the system-- the taxpayers-- by exploiting the elderly.

This is part of the problem that I see with the simplistic breakdown of the economy as freemarket versus government-dependent.

The entire business model of the Scooter Store was dependent upon tapping into the government, but how may of the people making their living off these Medicare-paid-for scooters would consider themselves living off the government largesse???

[cva66snipe]

The pain is manageable as long as I take precautions. Orthopedic doc says no walking on pavement or concrete if possible and I'm not supposed to hike up and down hills. I was born Club Footed both feet and as an adult my arches fell. But I was also born with some Inner Ear issues that causes be to walk off balance all the time. That's what done the bones and joints the most damage. I wear work boots with corrective insoles.Regular Tennis shoes or dress shoes I'll try and what feels like walk on my ankle. High top boots support my ankles.

I'm medically disabled not from the feet but from the Inner Ear and sensory damage which makes me have upper torso seizures, Certain sounds trigger it as well as certain optic stimulation. I have to do things like shop late at night etc to avoid noise and crowds. On a positive note I'm at over 50% hearing loss now LOL.

I know some in here are protesting Medicare/Medicaid buying a scooter or chair. The math is simple on a scooter. Medicare pays $800-$1200 for a scooter that if treated right can last seven years and person retain independence, OR person can go in nursing home on Medicare/Medicaid at todays prices going about $30K for basic care. It's a no brainer. I'm against fraud though. I'll report it when I see it especially a vendor ripping consumer or Medicare/Medicaid off.

I believe Medicare/Medicaid cost can be lowered very significantly bu encouraging cheaper alternatives like home health care. In 28 years my wife has received less than a dozen home health visits total. I do procedures that in a nursing home would be LPN/RN skill levels. I believe in most cases person do better being taken care of at home as it's healthier. I say this as a former nursing home employee.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “Also, this company must not be donors to 0bama.” <<

.
I suspect that may be the essence of the whole thing.

This is Obamacare in action, denying care but still taxing for it.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “ I see the same ones Medicaid pays for on Craigslist for a 1/10th what taxpayers paid for them” <<

.
Probably more like half, but that is common for people that use these chairs; they are in poor health to begin with, and many die soon after getting the chair, and their families get rid of them.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “The Scooter Store just exploited a Medicare loophole to steal taxpayer dollars.” <<

.
You’re just getting caught in the trap of Yellow journalism. The Scooter Store was not capable of doing what you said, because it couldn’t write prescriptions for the chairs.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “They (Top Management) were corrupt to the CORE” <<

.
Where is your evidence to support that accusation?

Should FreeRepublic share in the liability for damages arising out of your accusation?

[corbe]

It was just an easy jump for me to ascertain the corrupt nature of this company. They have been investigated by multiple County, State and Federal Agencies 3 TIMES in 4 Years. Also they have STOLEN MILLIONS of Dollars in Tax abatements from the city of New Braunfels, TX through our LOCAL 4B Board. The EXEC VICE PRESIDENT of the Scooter Store-TIM ZIPP (BING it) is also President of said 4B board, they have never managed to live up to agreed Local Employment levels that were mandated in the Framework of the TREATIES/Contracts. Retired Senator Bob Kruger and his City Councilmember wife is also in this up to their necks.

And of course there is THIS:

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management.

I understand this is not the Evidence you were expecting, just my humble opinion. Sue me Bob Kruger!!!!

[editor-surveyor]

No evidence was expected; the timbre of your post showed that there was none.

Welcome to the Weekly World News.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

So it's OK to steal taxpayer money if you find a loophole to exploit.

It's legal, but when you go belly-up, FU.

[editor-surveyor]

Let Obama’s boys have at them; if there is even a scrap of evidence of fraud I’m sure they’ll find a way to hang this Romney donor.

[poobear]

Unbelievable what you have accomplished and knowing your limitations. That is half the battle, knowing what you’re up against. I go to a Orthopedic Practice that is all new in their approach to old afflictions and have custom implants. Never too late to try something different.

I think your approach is admirable and I wish you all the best. I don’t have your afflictions but understand avoiding noise and people :) This is a good thing!

I don’t know how much Faith you have in The Higher Powers, but I do pray that He Blesses you and your dear wife for your endurance. May God Bless You and Keep you both...
poobear

[Dysart]

The entire business model of the Scooter Store was dependent upon tapping into the government, but how may of the people making their living off these Medicare-paid-for scooters would consider themselves living off the government largesse???

Largesse is defined as "Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others."

Well we understand, or I hope we do, the govt depends upon private contracted businesses to deliver goods and services throughout the economy. There is no alternative. As for "living off the largesse" that assumes nothing of value is exchanged, which isn't so. So that is a misappropriation of the concept. A lot of of labor, capital, and risk are exchanged for this "largesse." What we have here at topic is a perversion of the system by the Scooter Store.

Now, this is not to say it's an ideal system as it is, or was; and I should have emphasized was, because the model (I won't delve into this inside baseball stuff) has been revamped by regulators resulting in a severe consolidation of DME providers, so that beneficiaries have and will to continue to fewer choices as the new model is rolled out nationwide. Lower quality products and poorer services delivered are the price for stronger govt intervention. A freer market approach was proposed to CMS that they rejected in favor of a more highly regulated, artificial one.