Former Pa. Chiropractor Charged with Health Care, Mail Fraud

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan and Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett recently reported that Brent J. Detelich, formerly of Hermitage, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Health Care Fraud and Mail Fraud.

The 2-count indictment named Detelich, 36, who now resides in Florida, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Detelich was a chiropractor licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who did business as Detelich Chiropractic and Advanced Medical and Holistic of Hermitage P.C.

Detelich reportedly submitted fraudulent claims to Highmark for chiropractic treatment and services not rendered, up-coded the services rendered by claiming he and others in his employ performed services at a higher level than they actually performed, and split insurance payments regarding those false claims with certain patients.

Assistant United States Attorney Nelson Cohen, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.