Note : Rented , $ 1,200 taxpayer - funded wheelchair could be bought for $ 1 . CNN found chair that could be bought for a fourth of the price . Debbie Brown believes her story , wheelchair underscore problem health care system . CNN went to the same company that charges Medicare for Brown 's chair , Apria Healthcare , and bought it for $ 349 -- about a fourth of what taxpayers ' have paid for Brown 's rented wheelchair . Legislators , companies and competitive bidding to solve problems .
Note : Rented , $ 1,200 taxpayer - funded wheelchair could be bought for $ 1 . CNN found chair that could be bought for a fourth of the price . Debbie Brown believes her story , wheelchair underscore problem health care system . Legislators , companies and competitive bidding to solve problems .