The Scooter Store

History

Doug and Susanna Harrison founded The Scooter Store in 1991 in New Braunfels, Texas.

In 2003, the company filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for wrongfully denying Medicare claims. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) claimed that their own "Certificate of Medical Necessity" did not certify medical necessity. The federal government counter-sued the company. The Scooter Store agreed to settle its dispute with the government in 2007, having already recovered the majority of the claims in question.

In 2007, the company founded its Alliance Seating & Mobility Division.

By 2009, The Scooter Store had 129 locations across the United States, employed 2,368 people, and served more than 400,000 customers.

In September 2010, the company announced the creation of a new division focusing on Home Care equipment, accessories, and related services to complement its traditional power mobility business. The Home Care division provides manual wheelchairs, walkers, patient lifts, nebulizers, hospital beds, support surfaces and accessories and oxygen equipment in select markets.

In February 2011, The Scooter Store announced a new strategic partnership with an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners for financing to fuel the company's growth and potential acquisitions needed to serve the growing ranks of senior Americans.

On March 22, 2012, Doug Harrison stepped down as CEO of The Scooter Store. Harrison and the board of directors decided it was the best time for new leadership. Jay Randal Bishop took over as temporary CEO until the board of directors could find a successor. Harrison remained a member of the board of directors and was one of the company's largest stockholders.

On February 20, 2013, federal agents with search warrants raided The Scooter Store's New Braunfels headquarters. According to various news sources, the FBI agents were there to investigate the company's billing practices. Company spokespeople declined to comment to the press.

On March 8, 2013, The Scooter Store placed all employees on "unpaid furlough" with certain exceptions. This was done by mass email from the CEO.

On March 19, 2013, 1,500 employees received an email from CEO Marty Landon announcing the "unpaid furlough" to end on March 31, 2013, whereafter they would be officially laid off. 300 employees were asked to come back for an unspecified amount of time.

On April 16, 2013, The Scooter Store filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

References

References

1. "100 Best Companies to Work For 2010: Scooter Store - from FORTUNE".
2. Bennett, Dashiell. (2013-02-21). "FBI Declares War on The Scooter Store".
3. (February 21, 2013). "The Scooter Store power wheelchair company raided in federal probe".
4. "The Scooter Store shutting down after federal scrutiny". CBSNews.
5. Bowen, Greg. (May 13, 2016). "Feds say no criminal case against execs". Herald-Zeitung Online.
6. Danner, Patrick. (May 11, 2016). "Justice Department says ex-Scooter Store execs won't face criminal charges". San Antonio Express-News.
7. [http://www.thescooterstore.com/aboutus/history.aspx The Scooter Store delivers freedom and independence to its 400,000th customer.], The Scooter Store website, About Us: History: 2009
8. [http://media.thescooterstore.com/news/142499 The Scooter Store Creates Home Care Equipment Division.]
9. [http://media.thescooterstore.com/news/142755 The Scooter Store Secures Financing From a Sun Capital Partners Affiliate.]
10. "Scooter Store CEO resigns".
11. "Federal State Agents Raid SCOOTER Store, February 2013".
12. (9 March 2013). "Troubled Scooter Store lays off staff after federal raid".
13. "Email to the Scooter Store employees | News - Home".
14. [http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/15/4775959/scooter-store-files-for-bankruptcy.html The Scooter Store files for bankruptcy] star-telegram.com April 15, 2013 {{dead link. (December 2023)