Williston, SC (WFXG) -
Lauren Payne says while she
was a paramedic for the Williston Rescue Squad, her manager told her to pick up
people in an ambulance when there was no emergency.
"I remember a couple
times we had to pick people up from Subway and take them home from their
job," said Payne.
She says she only did it
twice but it didn't take her long to figure out how the Rescue Squad was
cheating the health care system.
"Just because they had
Medicare they would call our boss and he would let them ride with us, charge
the Medicare company and get paid for the ride," Payne, said.
According to the United States
Department of Justice, the squad billed Medicare for the rides and filed false
paperwork in order to meet the medical insurance standards.
Payne says she even signed
off on the paperwork.
"Did you at any point think
this isn't right, this doesn't seem right?" asked FOX54's Mark Barber. "Oh
yeah, plenty of times, but if your boss is telling you to do something and your
job is at stake you just kind of do it," said Payne.
The non-emergency ambulance
rides stopped after a whistle blower came forward.
Department of
Justice officials say the squad is now paying $800,000 back to the United
States.
A social worker at a facility that some of the patients
were brought to blew the whistle; she will receive $160,000 in the settlement.
"I was shocked, when we
saw it on the news the other day I just told my husband it makes me feel bad
how many times my name was put on something or I signed off on something,"
Payne, said.
Payne says she quit for
unrelated reasons. She says three Rescue Squad employees were fired for their
part in the scandal.
"It's embarrassing for
the whole town, it really is," said Payne.
We reached out to the Williston Rescue Squad for comment;
we expect to back from them on Monday.
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