Athletic club remains open after chargesPublished: 2010-07-04 18:56:03Author: Brian Bingaman | The Reporter | March 23, 2010HATFIELD - magine the shock of learning your landlord is accused of
bilking an insurance company out of almost $400,000.
“I’m blown
away. We had no idea this was going on,” said Karen Latta, owner of the
Renzo Gracie Pa. Academy, which serves more than 500 martial arts
students within the facilities of the Hatfield Athletic Club on
Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield Township.
Latta’s reaction was to a
report that the U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia is charging
chiropractor Raymond Brozek, as well as Mark Levin and Michael Karp, who
were named in a press release as owners of the club, with health-care
fraud.
Between 2004 and 2006, it is alleged that Rehab One, a
chiropractic and rehabilitation facility inside the club, and Rehab Two,
a gym located in the basement of Levin’s home, fraudulently billed
Independence Blue Cross approximately $1.9 million for procedures that
were either not medically necessary; not performed at all; performed by
unlicensed staff members not under Brozek’s direct supervision; or not
reimbursable by IBC, according to the press release from the U.S.
Attorney’s Office.
The billing allegedly resulted in payments
from IBC totaling approximately $399,822, the U.S. Attorney’s office
said.
Latta expressed concerns regarding public perception of her
business, which, she said, was not involved with the chiropractic
practice.
Rehab One closed in 2006, Latta said.
“Probably
the biggest thing for people to know is there are good businesses within
the Hatfield (Athletic) Club. The Hatfield club is a separate entity,
along with Rehab One. We’re a good business. We’re not involved with any
of this,” Latta said, referring to the Renzo Gracie Pa. Academy and
fellow tenants Delaware Valley Dance Academy and Kidnastics.
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