Podiatrist charged with insurance fraud

NewsBot · Jan 30, 2007

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The Star Ledger is reporting:
Podiatrist charged with insurance fraud
Mercer doctor is accused of illegally billing Medicare and two companies for $1 million
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A Mercer County podiatrist was arrested yesterday after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges that he bilked Medicare and insurance companies of more than $1 million through fraudulent billings.

John Cavalli, 36, of Hamilton Township, made his initial court appearance in Newark before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Hedges, who set bail at $100,000.

Cavalli was formerly the president of the Poor Circulation Treatment Center, a podiatry practice that largely catered to elderly and poor patients covered by Medicare, according to authorities.

The two-count indictment, which was unsealed yesterday, also charged one of Cavalli's colleagues, Alan Tuchman, with aiding in the conspiracy. Tuchman, 60, of East Windsor, is a fellow podiatrist.

Cavalli's scheme to defraud Medicare, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Aetna Life Insurance Co. started in January 2001 and continued through January 2005, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Rose.

Cavalli submitted claims stating that he had personally rendered certain services that had actually been performed by unqualified and untrained technicians and interns, according to the indictment.

He also fraudulently billed for nontraditional treatments that shouldn't have been covered, using different codes in an attempt to deceive Medicare officials, authorities said.

After officials began an audit of Cavalli, he sought to cover up his scheme by enlisting Tuchman and other podiatrists to submit fraudulent bills claiming they had personally rendered therapy to patients they had in fact not treated.

Cavalli and Tuchman also fraudulently billed insurance carriers in certain instances as if they had provided one-on-one treatment, which pays a higher reimbursement rate, when services had in fact been rendered in a group setting.

Lorraine Gauli-Rufo, the public defender representing Cavalli, declined to comment after yesterday's hearing.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Tuchman, but he was not apprehended as of early yesterday evening, according the U.S. Attorney's office. Peter Willis, Tuchman's attorney, did not return a phone call for comment.

Each doctor could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Cavalli filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and his treatment center is no longer in operation
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FootmanFootman · Mar 20, 2007

Greedy b...strds

Well. at least in prison they can only biil for house call rates and they'll pay less in monthly rent and far less expensive lease hold mprovements.

John Spina · Mar 27, 2007

As a wiser man than me once said,bulls make money,bears make money and pigs get slaughtered.

Cameron · Mar 31, 2007

another fraud exposed

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070313/BREAKINGNEWS/70313049

Podiatrist charged with insurance fraud

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FootmanFootman Member

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Podiatrist charged with insurance fraud

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

FootmanFootman Member

John Spina Active Member

Cameron Well-Known Member

Tennessee Podiatrist Charged with Health Care Fraud for Alleged Foot Bath Scheme

Detroit Podiatrist Charged for Role in $13.9 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Podiatrist charged with groping employee, exposing himself at clinic

Podiatrist Charged with Illegal Distribution of Fentanyl and Oxycodone

Milpitas podiatrist charged with embezzling nearly $1 million from elderly woman

Lehigh Valley podiatrist charged in assault on parents

Spring Hill podiatrist charged with performing abortions for underage girls

Share This Page

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