Focusing specifically on DME fraud in South Florida, a national public radio (NPR) report says the FBI has interviewed drug dealers and asked them “why they are moving from cocaine to wheelchairs and walkers.” The report aired on NPR said that Medicare fraud was particularly acute in South Florida. “The smart action is in something called durable medical equipment, which includes items such as wheelchairs, back braces, canes, walkers, electric beds, and shower-transfer tubs,” said NPR broadcaster Greg Allen. “It sounds mundane, but the numbers involved are mind-boggling. Fraudulent Medicare claims estimated at between $300 million and $400 million were prosecuted in just two South Florida counties in the past year.”

Officials at VGM were copied on 17 written responses directed at Allen. “Many felt the article was unbalanced, with no input from the Florida Association of Medical Equipment Services (FAMES) or AAHomecare,” says Mark J. Higley, VP of development at VGM. “Two of the 17 completely agreed with the article and thought it was appropriate that the public be aware that there are certain crooks operating in southern Florida.”

One letter writer wrote: “I am a long time listener of NPR and Morning Edition. I was appalled to hear your story on October 11 where you compare DME suppliers to drug dealers without mention that most DME suppliers are ethical business people…We believe the government should prosecute the involved individuals and entities to the fullest extent of the law. But the real crime is that CMS has failed to police the program for years.”

Yet another letter writer chose a different tact, telling the reporter, “You are an idiot.” According to Michael Reinemer, VP of communications and policy at AAHomecare, reporter Greg Allen is willing to revisit the story and meet with Raul Lopez, president of FAMES. “This is the best outcome we could hope for,” wrote Reinemer in a letter to VGM. “The real story, of course, is the failure by CMS to do its job of preserving program integrity in Medicare. To be fair, the NPR story was sloppy and one-sided, but it did not equate HME providers with drug dealers. It said drug dealers are getting into DME fraud.”