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Scam Alert: Beware of the Medicare back brace scam
By Better Business Bureau. May 29, 2020.

To view the full article, please visit:
https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13033-scam-alert-beware-of-the-medicare-back-brace-scam

Medicare fraud has cost the American public more than $60 billion, and durable medical equipment fraud is a significant contributor to that total. In April 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 24 people across the country for DME fraud involving more than $1.2 billion in losses.

And here's one more reason to care about durable medical equipment fraud: if you receive an unnecessary piece of equipment but don't report it, you may be stuck later. When the time comes that you actually need such a device, Medicare may not pay the bill for it, saying they already covered it years earlier.

Other Examples of DME Fraud:

- Suppliers who want you to use their doctors (who then prescribe unnecessary medical equipment)
- Doctors or suppliers who charge Medicare for items you never received
- Companies that bill for duplicate orders
- Older adults who allow their Medicare number to be used in exchange for money or other things In March 2022, BBB received complaint and/or Scam Tracker activity concerning BBB contacted Halo Florida DME, LLC and it's billing practices. Specifically, BBB has received a pattern of consumer complaint activity alleging phone calls that target senior citizens, from telemarketers misrepresenting themselves as Medicare representatives. The consumers receive unauthorized shipments of medical braces shortly after. Complaints also allege that they received phone calls that appear to be from Medicare, asking for their Medicare ID's and other sensitive information over the phone. They then receive medical brace products in the mail, however they did not authorize such orders to be placed.

In reviewing the complaint activity, BBB has determined that the sales practices used for most products makes no disclosure or has inadequate disclosure that customers are not actually speaking to Medicare but a company attempting to sell durable medical equipment, and would be billing Medicare for such orders.

BBB contacted the business in order to obtain their position on the compalint activity and request substantiation of the license required to offer services per their advertising. To date no reply has been received.

Customer Complaint

BBB received the following Scam Tracker submission(s) concerning this company:

- Created on June 14, 2022:
"POS MED CORP
(654) 778-9124
710 Pondella Rd. Suite 4 North Fort Myers
This Co sent me unnecessary and unwanted medical equipment. They called me, I said I don't need it, and they sent me $4,000 worth of equipment and billed Medicare. This constitutes fraud. I want them contracted and reported. I have sent them a letter requesting they accept the returned merchandise and that they refund Medicare."

- Created on June 13, 2022:
"a person called and had my valid MEDICARE ID #, advised that they were sending braces, I refused and the braces were still sent, I returned the box to 1419 DONELSON PIKE NASHVILLE TN 37217-2957 $20 postage, my Blue Cross insurance confirmed that there was a claim for $3,784.90 and Medicare did pay $2493.40 but Blue Cross will not pay their portion of $629.66"

- Created on May 10, 2022:
"I received a telephone call from someone who said he was from Medicare. He said that I am entitled for free 2 ankle braces and 2 backbraces. He had me give him my Medicare number. Yesterday, I received these items, but since learned Medicare never calls individuals. I am sure the company that sent these items will charge me. I did contact them and they said they would send a return label for me to return the items. The company is;: Halo Florida DME LLC 710 Pondella Road Ste4 N. Ft.Myers,Fl.33903 866-623-1209"

- Created on March 22, 2022:
"My Mother was contacted by a representative of HALO Florida DME LLC that stated that Medicaid/Medicare has a new benefit that sends back braces, knee braces and various medical supplies. They had her name, phone number, home address and medical history, which they read to her. They did not ask for credit card or social security number, BUT when the box was shipped to the house there was a form included, which asked for private information. They told her on the phone that the form included with the shipment needed to be completed so that the company can bill Medicaid/Medicare (of which she did not complete."

- Created on November 22, 2021:
"**** **** **** was contacted by phone by a person stating they were from Medicare. They asked if she wanted things that she was entitled to for free. They were convincing but they asked her if she needed a wrest brace and then she got suspious because she doesnt not and notified them that she did not or need a wrest brace and then she was asked why not its free? She then stated that the phone call was getting weird and she was hanging up. She then received a box in the mail with two wrest brace and a letter informing that she needed to fill out a form with her SSN so that they could bill her insurance company. I called the company today and spoke to a person claiming to be Dixie that said she would send a UPS mailing letter to pick up the box and stop the billing to Medicaid. She was very friendly of course. My mother in law luckily still has her wits but she started to be convinced and it is horrible people are taking advantage of older people and misbilling insurance."