This raid is not SOP. PPS is in serious trouble

Who was the last company you can remember being raided by government agencies? It just doesn't happen that often. A raid is necessary when the government KNOWS (not suspects) a company will destroy evidence. Don't feed into the PPS spin, they're in for a world of hurt from this. Think about it, if this was a slap on the wrist investigation, why would they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on these raids? Yes, hundreds of thousands of dollars, it takes months of preparation leading up to this. PPS has been under serveilance, when the managers came and went etc.....The Feds don't decide the day of, this is a high profile SEIZURE.

Gina Swankie, a public affairs specialist with the FBI's Sacramento office, confirmed that "warrant activity took place," but she couldn't comment further.


Document seizures typically happen when, during the course of an investigation, the government becomes concerned that files or documents could get lost, destroyed or altered, says a source familiar with these types of actions. Investigations can be triggered for many reasons, including from a tip from a competitor or a current or former employee, says the source.


"It's an extreme measure and it doesn't happen very often," said the source.


There was no lack of speculation about Pacific Pulmonary's situation in the provider community last week. One provider says the company may have known the raid was coming. Another called the company's sales tactics "aggressive."


Regardless of the outcome of the raid, the media attention it has received is the last thing the HME industry needs, providers say.


"It's a concern to us because we think it gives the industry, as a whole, a black eye," said Matt Lawrence, vice president of sales and operations at SuperCare in City of Industry, Calif.

 

Way to go Matt, love the response. And spoken like you know a few things about what PPS is doing wrong!!! I hope you are doing well.

Yes, the budget has grown for CMS to investigate companies that are not 100% doing things by the CMS guidelines. I am sure like all the other companies, PPS will pay a fine and admit no wrong doing. Dont forget as much as we may dislike PPS, there are still people that depend on the services that PPS and like companies provide. WHile we may all agree that PPS is run by some bad management; people still need thius service to keep them out of a hospital or a SNF. While I hope that this investigation sheds the light on the bad things that have happened to good people that are no longer with the company I only HOPE and PRAY that the FBI reads these boards and I hope that they look into the issues that MARTIN and MURR did in the reimbursement area.

Kane- is any of this sinking in???? Any of it??? Are you asleep at the wheel? I wonder when it is that you are actually going to listen. Are you listening now? Hello can you hear me?

How much more has to happen before you say 'Boy, I think I made a mistake, I should right the ship' I need to let go of a few people.

Think how if you had only done the opposite of what you did, i assure you the company and you would be in a better position. Hiring Ian was a BAD idea. But all your idea.

Martin, Murr, Shotwell, MAtrindale, Winters, do I need to go on?

 

Actually getting rid of PPS would help the industry's reputation....for the most part, the independents are good companies helping patients. It is the likes of PPS, Lincare, Rotech and Apria that put a 'black eye' on the industry. Shutting down these scum bags would be a good thing....may be some of the other national companies will take note and improve their tactics. I cant wait to see how this unfolds....those corporate smucks will have a hard time getting another high paying job with PPS on their resume.

 

One of the biggest mistakes Pacific Pulmonary made was hiring J.A. That man is a snake in the grass! I hope the old saying "higher you are the further you fall" rings true for this skeezbag!

 

I king of wondered how serious this was. From what I could gather from the news and online this was coordinated. They hit Bakersfield and Ridgecrest at the exact same time they hit Novato. That does seem to indicate that they didn't want these offices notifying each other that a raid had occurred. I also heard that they did something to the phones in the offices so that outgoing calls couldn't be made. That all says a lot about this being more than casually coming in and requesting documents. Which is the spin that PPS is putting on it.

 

So get this,, the Syracuse staff were told today by there new PPS molded she male DOM that if they are approached by any agents of the gov. or the press that they are to say NOTHING except to give a phone # for them to call and plead the fifth. Now just how guilty does that sound?? If they were to EVER go into ANY of the Associated Health Care's and have a look at the VA. crap that goes on and even just take there techs off to the side they would really find ALOT of wrong doings...
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My first five minutes at the OM position, I was handed the "if the feds come in here" policy. I had to read it and sign off on it. The policy stated to give them a Novato phone number and say nothing! Funny how they are reiterating this policy.....sure sounds like they are worried at corporate..........gosh I love this!!!

 

The Feds will go after management and execs.
Remember.....
http://library.findlaw.com/2004/May/11/147945.html