Direct-to-consumer marketing of durable medical equipment.

T commercials are pervasive. Every time I hear the line, “I got a new scooter, and it didn’t cost me a dime,” I get an uneasy feeling, since the main message comes across as how to get “free stuff” from Medicare. It’s not surprising that some of the companies that provide scooters, oxygen, diabetes supplies, and various durable medical equipment (DME) have been investigated for fraud and abuse. Certainly, there is something to be said for helping patients get medically necessary supplies and equipment. Still, aggressive tactics by some of these companies may also pose a risk for you. What’s a physician to do?