Medical Equipment
Brace Mobility, LLCFind BBB Accredited Businesses in Medical Equipment.
Information and Alerts
Alert Details
This business has 1 alert.
Investigations
BBB began an investigation on Brace Mobility, LLC after receiving complaints that alleged they were sending unrequested medical equipment to consumers who were then billed.
BBB sent the complaints to Brace Mobility, LLC seeking their voluntary cooperation in responding to all complaints and addressing the issues regarding the complaints.
Brace Mobility, LLC did not respond.
BBB sent Brace Mobility, LLC our Standard Business Questionnaire for their completion and return. We also asked for copies of any written agreements, contracts, literature and marketing materials used by Brace Mobility. This would allow complete transparency regarding Brace Mobility, LLC's marketplace practices to consumer inquiries.
Brace Mobility, LLC did not respond.
BBB requested answers to the following questions:
Is Brace Mobility, LLC a Medicare provider?
Has Brace Mobility, LLC been affiliated with any other company(s) during the past five years?
How is Robert Wells connected to your firm?
How do you obtain the names/addresses for your customers?
What script do you use when contacting consumers?
Does this script indicate to consumers that you are selling a product that they could possibly get from Medicare at no cost?
What is the actual address for your firm?
What other companies have you been affiliated with in the past five years?
Brace Mobility did not respond.
Important Information
Additional Info
BBB General Advice & Tips:
Durable Medical Equipment Tips:
Seniors are less likely to fall for scams overall, according to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report (BBB.org/RiskReport). But here is one scam that's aimed right at seniors: free medical equipment.
The Better Business Bureau is hearing from consumers who have been targeted by scammers for "free" back braces or other types of durable medical equipment.
How the Scam Works:
You get a call saying you qualify for a back brace or a knee brace - totally paid for by Medicare. The scammer may pretend to be from Medicare, or they may claim to be the maker of durable medical equipment (DME). They say you qualify for the equipment for free, and they repeatedly call until you relent and allow them to submit an order to your doctor for the equipment. Or you may say no, but the company ships the brace anyway. Other times the equipment just shows up on your doorstep and Medicare receives the bill. Often consumers have a difficult time returning the unnecessary equipment.
By law, no one is allowed to make unsolicited calls to consumers about durable medical equipment. If they do, it's Medicare fraud. And taxpayers' foot the bill for all the unwanted products. If you get such a call, just hang up.
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
Medicare fraud has cost the American public more than $60 billion, and durable medical equipment fraud is a significant contributor to that total.
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.
How to Protect Yourself and Medicare from DME Fraud
Refuse and report anyone offering "free" equipment, supplies, or services in exchange for your Medicare number.
Know that Medicare medical suppliers are not allowed to make unsolicited telephone calls or send e-mails to sell you equipment unless you've done business with them in the last 15 months.
Never sign a blank form from your health care provider or equipment supplier.
Always read your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to look for any charges for equipment you do not need or did not receive.
Protect your Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security cards; keep them in a safe place (not your wallet), and only get them out when you are going to see a health care provider.
If you get one of these calls, immediately hang up. Here are some other steps you can take:
Call your doctor and tell him or her about the attempted scam
Call the Medicare fraud hotline: 800-633-4227 (800-MEDICARE)
File a complaint at https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started
Get help from Senior Medicare Patrols: 877-808-2468
Report the fraud to the FBI at 800-Call- FBI
For more information:
To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker.
To learn more about health care and Medicare scams, go to BBB.org/HealthcareScam
Additional Info
BBB received return mail on this firm. We are unable to confirm is the company is still in operation.
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