SILLER BEWARE
Would-be sellers of fire and life safety services must be aware of various laws affecting the services they intend to sell. Failure to properly research and develop new revenue-generating programs may result in significant financial penalties and civil or criminal charges being brought against the department and its officials.
For example, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which handles the federal Medicare program, currently is investigating public and private ambulance services throughout the nation. The issue is Medicare fraud. Intentionally or unintentionally, many public and private ambulance services are violating Medicare billing laws. The U.S. Justice Department has reassigned 50 FBI agents from counterespionage and counterterrorism activities to assist the HCFA in its investigations.
Fire service agencies interested in pursuing new revenue alternatives should contact the International Association of Fire Chiefs for advice and referral prior to initiating any new programs.
