New Jersey Chiropractor Charged With Stealing $89K Through False Claims

New Jersey officials announced that a local chiropractor was charged with stealing more than $89,000 from insurance companies by submitting false claims for alleged treatments on more than 30 patients who were involved in auto accidents.

The New Jersey attorney general’s office announced this week that Joseph Salomone, 44, of Nutley, was charged with 125 counts of second-degree health care claims fraud, and one count each of second-degree attempted theft by deception and second-degree theft by deception.

Salomone allegedly directed his office staff to submit the fraudulent documentation to insurance companies – Allstate Insurance Company, High Point Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, New Jersey Manufacturer’s Insurance Company and United States Automobile Association – as part of the billing process.

Through this fraud, Salomone allegedly sought $196,055 in fraudulent payments or reimbursement, of which he received $89,283.

The state grand jury indictment alleges that, between 2007 and 2011, Salomone submitted, or caused to be submitted, 125 fraudulent documents to insurance companies.

Salomone also allegedly directed his office workers to complete periodic re-evaluation forms for 37 patients, which purported to list the results of range of motion tests on these auto accident victims.

It is alleged that Salomone directed his staff to complete the re-evaluation forms using predetermined information unrelated to an actual assessment of the patient. Accordingly, the patients’ medical records allegedly did not accurately reflect whether these patients actually needed to continue chiropractic care.

“Salomone allegedly kept the patients coming for months and months of chiropractic care by falsifying the results of examinations so that they always supported continued treatment — and continued billing,” Attorney General Chiesa said.