Charging patients differently sparked FBI investigation on Stat

First of all, STAT had no choice but to cooperate. The FBI served them with search warrants. For them to imply they are somehow cooperating with a federal investigation is somewhat disingenuous. They were forced. Second, the owner has basically admitted fraud in the newspaper by saying his company HAS over-billed for ambulance runs. Make no mistake, The FBI and Office of The Inspector General are not paying a courtesy call, this is a federal investigation. A brief check of GOOGLE with the terms FBI AMBULANCE SERVICE came up with this:

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FBI — Last Two Defendants Convicted in Ambulance Fraud Case ...
Americare Ambulance Service, a Medicare and Medicaid provider, primarily engaged in ... Wanted by the FBI - Houston FBI Jobs
www.fbi.gov/houston/press-releases/2009/ho051309.htm - Cached
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FBI — Owners of Murfreesboro Ambulance Service Arrested on ...
NASHVILLE, TN—Woody Medlock, Sr., his wife, Kathy Medlock, and son, Woody Medlock, Jr., of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, were arrested today on charges of conspiracy ...
www.fbi.gov/memphis/press-releases/2010/me011210.htm - Cached
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FBI raids Texas ambulance company
FBI raids Texas ambulance company During the raid ... company that provides ambulance services. "We are executing a search warrant only and it is sealed," said FBI Special ...
www.ems1.com/.../1242267-FBI-raids-Texas-ambulance-company - Cached
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Kentucky Rural Metro Ambulance Service raided by FBI
Our news service is free and, while you may freely email our intact newsletter to individual friends or link to any page of our site ...
www.emsnetwork.org/artman2/publish/article_44781.shtml - Cached
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FBI raids Rural Metro in Louisville KY | Texas Fire & EMS Law
The FBI confirmed they raided an ambulance service in Louisville, KY yesterday. No comments and the search warrant is sealed. Interesting – the story is after the ...
texasfireemslaw.solopracticeuniversity.com/2011/03/10/fbi... - Cached
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Rural Metro Ambulance Service raided by FBI | News | East ...
We pride ourselves on our one of a kind talented artists and professional work.
jtown-ferncreek.wave3.com/...ambulance-service-raided-fbi - Cached
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Rural Metro Ambulance Service raided by FBI | News for Dallas ...
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Over the weekend WAVE 3 received a mobile tip about a possible FBI raid at Rural Metro Ambulance Service here in Louisville. After making a ...
topics.dallasnews.com/article/062W9eU2v3e6j - Cached
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Rural Metro Ambulance Service raided by FBI
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Over the weekend WAVE 3 received a mobile tip about a possible FBI raid at Rural Metro Ambulance Service here in Louisville. After making a ...
1click.indiatimes.com/article/062W9eU2v3e6j?q=Kentucky - Cached
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County’s ambulance company facing FBI probe | The Examiner
A privately owned ambulance service that serves as the contracted emergency responder for rural areas of Jefferson County is facing an investigation by the FBI and ...
theexaminer.com/stories/news/county’s-ambulance-company... - Cached

And that's just the first page. Granted, no one has been charged but with STAT's reputation, indictments are likely within the next year IMHO!

^ Mr. Johns did not say in the the republic that they HAVE over billed for the service. I see no harm in charging more,when they themselves have to pay more to transport these pts.

As much as I don't like Stat, I'd tend to agree with them on this matter. They are paying a substantial more upfront cost for a specialized bariactric ambulance. Plus they will have to call addition Stat personnel to assist with the lifting. All of this leads to having to charge more to patients.

Let's not forget, they are not the EMS provider for the city and county, so people that call them (for emergencies) are bypassing the 911 system.

Since they are continuing to operate today - and we know that if this was really bad, the FBI could have shut them down immediately, I would say they aren't finished with the investigation and there is enough evidence that maybe an intentional crime was not committed.

It is my understanding that medicare and insurance denied other claims for various reasons, but both medicare and insurance paid these claims. If you have any dealings with either medicare or insurance, you know they can turn down claims and ask questions later. But in this case, the claims were paid. Also, if they were very large individuals a larger gurney would have been needed along with more manpower to get them onto the gurney. When larger people fly, they are asked to pay for two seats - why is this any different?

I haven't had any dealings with Stat or any other ambulance service, but they fulfill a need in our community, operated by people from our community and I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt AND you have a choice - call 911 or call Stat - it is your choice.

As for people that feel bad for STAT I personally do not. They are NOT a good company at all. The only thing that keeps them running is they hire anyone and everyone and will take in newly graduated emts and people that quit several times, steal from them(money and items), or have criminal back grounds are always hired back. Another reason they are still running is because they have ties with some big people that STAT gives alot of money to keep in office and such so they can keep in buisness. I pray for the day I will not have to see a stat ambulance in columbus.

STAT Ambulance needs to be shut down! There is a heck of alot more going on then fraud believe me I know cuz I use to work there. Most of the equipment is old and doesn't work plus Mr. Johns pays the younger guys to have sex with him. Also they don't pay the employees on time. I went 3 weeks and a day without a paycheck from them on several times. I'm so glad that I quit because I knew something like this was going to happen. And for the bariatric unit they don't call for assistance. Men only work on it and also the cot can be automatically pulled with a touch of a button up two ramps. Jaime knew exactly what he was doing as well as Mr. Vest cuz Mr. Vest left before they were raided to head to Florida!

It's not just bariatric patients that are being overcharged...if you charge based on BMI a lot of people are overweight and obese but not necessarily bariatric. If you're 20# over your ideal weight and your BMI is a certain number - you get charged bariatric.

If I were involved in a car accident and STAT was called to the scene, I'd rather walk to hospital.