In brief: Fraud sentences, new NRRTS Web site and more

MIAMI - Five providers were sentenced to prison terms last week for billing Medicare $28.6 million for unnecessary home medical equipment and infusion therapy, according to the office of the assistant attorney general for the southern district of Florida. Collectively, the providers were sentenced to 298 months in prison and asked to pay $13 million in restitution. "The Strike Force in South Florida has successfully prosecuted some of the most egregious cases of Medicare fraud, and the average prison sentence for these violators is now up to almost 52 months, which is above the national average of 31 months, with many Strike Force defendants receiving over 10 years," stated Alice Fisher, assistant attorney general, in a release. NRRTS revamps Web site LITTLETON, Colo. - NRRTS has revamped its Web site, allowing members to search for registrants, write their members of Congress, browse educational opportunities, register for seminars and stay abreast of current issues. According to a release: "The Web site designed by Hartsfield Design in Lubbock, Texas, is simpler to navigate and will enable NRRTS to better communicate with its registrants, friends of NRRTS, consumers, the industry and the public." With a revamped Web site, NRRTS now plans to e-mail links to members, driving traffic to its Web site, instead of e-mailing lengthy blasts, said Executive Director Simon Margolis. United Seating & Mobility buys Rehab Medical EARTH CITY, Mo. - United Seating & Mobility has acquired St. Louis-based Rehab Medical, boosting its presence in Missouri. The provider already has a handful of branches in the state. Jim Fiss, co-owner and president of Rehab Medical, has retired. United Seating last made an acquisition in May, when it bought the Atlanta-based On the Go Medical. Additionally, United Seating and National Seating & Mobility swapped two branches in July to boost their respective market shares. United picked up branches in Kansas City, Mo., and Columbus, Ohio. Defense department honors Marra's Homecare WATERTOWN, N.Y. - Marra's Homecare Equipment & Supplies received some nice recognition in mid-November, when the U.S. Department of Defense awarded the New York provider the prestigious Patriotic Employer Award. The award recognizes employers "that go above and beyond" to support an employee's participation in the National Guard and reserve during a time of war. Less than 1% of employers nationally receive this award. Marra's received it for holding open the job of Jeff McMahon, a driver-tech called up last February to serve about six months in the guard. "We didn't want to lose him," said Edward Mentry, manager of the company's corporate office in Watertown, N.Y. "Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do what you have to do."