FBI targets third California provider

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In what's becoming a regular occurrence, the FBI has raided another home medical equipment provider in California.

Agents removed boxes and equipment from the offices of Right Healthcare on Oct. 26, according to local news reports. Right Healthcare did not respond to requests for comment.

"The U.S. Attorney's office in Sacramento is being very aggressive in looking at HME companies in central California," said one source, who did not want to be named. "They are targeting oxygen providers in that part of the state. As far as what they are looking for, I don't know."

This is the third such raid this year on a provider with a presence in central California. In May, agents raided the offices of Visalia-based Care Medical; in February, agents raided several offices of Novato-based Pacific Pulmonary Services, including its Bakersfield offices.

[See also: FBI raids Pacific Pulmonary]

[See also: FBI raids HME offices]

FBI spokeswoman Gina Swankie had no comment.

"We don't confirm or deny investigations," she told HME News.

The recent FBI search and seizures have caught the industry's interest because they have targeted established companies. Right Healthcare's website states that the HQAA-accredited provider was founded in 1998 and specializes in respiratory and diabetes products and services.

As to the status of the investigations of Pacific Pulmonary and Care Medical? In an email to HME News, Pacific Pulmonary stated it had no updates at this time. Care Medical did not respond to a request for comment, but it had previously told HME News that it would cooperate with the investigation.

[See also: When the FBI comes calling]