The hosts discuss a fictional mission involving an atomic bomb threat and infiltrating a B&B in the Lake District, share a funny story about falling into a shallow grave in a cemetery, explore controversial comments about women, delve into the exploitative media coverage of grieving parents, and discuss questionable practices of private ambulance companies and the absurdity of certain ambulance designs and operations.
The company Ambulance, under DocGo's ownership, has been involved in mismanagement, fraudulent practices, and Medicare fraud, highlighting the risks of relying on private companies for public services.
Ambulance enticed migrants with promises of jobs and legal assistance, only to abandon them in Albany, leading to a probe by Governor Kathy Hochul and a class-action lawsuit by investors.
Ambulance's questionable claims of being an AI-powered ambulance service, along with their bizarre vehicle design, raise doubts about their credibility and abilities as a healthcare provider.
Deep dives
Issues with AVA AI and CEO Resignation
In September, CEO Anthony Capone resigned amid scrutiny over the handling of its migrant care contract and false academic credentials. The company faced allegations of falsely representing its technology and made materially false and misleading statements to investors. Capone claimed to have a master's degree and a background in computational learning theory, but it was discovered he did not possess a master's degree. He also misspelled honors as 'come loud' on his CV.
No-bid contract and abandonment of migrants
Ambulance obtained a no-bid contract from the state of New York to transport and care for migrants. However, the company faced accusations that it enticed migrants with promises of jobs and legal assistance, but then abandoned them in Albany. Governor Kathy Hochul ordered a probe into the company, and there is now a class-action lawsuit by investors, alleging that the company made false statements and failed to deliver promised technology and services.
Troubled History and Media Attention
Ambulance has faced previous scrutiny and controversies, including an investigation by officials in New York City and the state, as well as complaints from migrants. However, these issues did not receive significant media attention in the UK. The company's difficulties in the US highlight the challenges and risks of relying on private companies for essential public services.
Mismanagement and Fraudulent Practices
The podcast episode highlights the mismanagement and fraudulent practices of a company called DocGo and its subsidiary Ambulance. Former employees have accused the company of Medicare fraud, forging signatures, and billing for services not provided. The company has been involved in lawsuits and allegations of covering up mistakes and patient care issues. Additionally, the subsidiary in the UK has been accused of doctoring documents to conceal the truth about deaths linked to their services.
Improper Provision of Meals and Dubious Claims
The podcast episode also reveals that Ambulance, under DocGo's ownership, has been involved in improper provision of meals to migrants, where large amounts of food were wasted. The company's questionable claims include branding themselves as an AI-powered ambulance service despite providing very little technological information. The episode also mentions the company's bizarre vehicle called the 'hover-land,' which is essentially a modified Mercedes Sprinter van with four propellers, raising doubts about the company's credibility and abilities.
In this special episode, we revisit an old startup from 2019 that’s still getting huge government contracts to provide a service we can only describe as ‘the ambulance driven by clowns that drops you off in the middle of the woods.’ This is not an exaggeration.
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