Everyone in our the nation has been moved by the crisis in Haiti. The photographs of death and destruction only tell part of the story. The people of Haiti are suffering. Hospitals, doctors offices, nursing homes and alike are gone; much under the rubble.

We as Medial Equipment Providers can help.

All types of equipment is needed in Haiti to help the injured. AMEPA is working with FAHCS to gather equipment to send to Haiti. The Associations are working with medical missions and other non-profit entities to collect home medical equipment and distribute it properly. We ask all providers to look in their warehouse, we know that everyone has wheelchairs and walkers, hospital beds and commodes, even oxygen concentrators and nebulizers, that work fine, but may be too beat-up or motors too loud that you will never release them to the American public again.

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Senate version of Healthcare reform has new twists

Last night the Senate announced an agreement with liberal and moderate Democrats that would allow them to gain the necessary votes to pass a Senate Health Care Bill. To the surprise of many, this includes a change to Medicare eligibility. Instead of moving the age of eligibility from 65 years old to 67 of 69 years (to save money), the agreement includes a move to lower the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits to 55 years old. This is a major expansion of Medicare's rolls.

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Last night 60 Minutes' lead story was another about DME fraud in Miami-Dade County. During the segment, correspondent Steve Kroft interviewed a convicted felon, "Tony", now serving 12 years for defrauding Medicare of $20 million. Below is a transcript from CBS from the last minute of the segment:
The Obama administration is providing Medicare with an additional $200 million to fight fraud as part of its stimulus package, and billions of dollars to computerize medical records and upgrade networks, which should help Medicare catch more phony charges. But Tony, who has just begun serving his 12 year prison sentence, says there's no shortage of people in Miami waiting to take his place.
Asked how many people in Miami were doing this, Tony said, "I'd say at least 2,000 people. At least 2,000, 3,000 companies."
He estimated that less than five percent of these companies were legitimate.

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