Published: 2009-10-31 08:09:53
Author: KATHLEEN HOPKINS | TOMS RIVER BUREAU | October 12, 2009
TOMS RIVER — A chiropractor who let his license lapse but continued to treat patients has been named in an indictment alleging forgery, theft and insurance fraud, among other crimes.
An Ocean County grand jury last week handed up the indictment naming Frederick C. Padovano, 52, of Toms River with theft by deception, health care claims fraud, insurance fraud, practicing medicine without a license, and forgery.
Padovano had operated Anchorage Wellness and Rehabilitation in Toms River and also worked for a chiropractic office in Totowa in Passaic County.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office began investigating Padovano after four people came forward and said they had invested money with him for percentages of a physical therapy business he said he was starting but never did, Senior Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Martin J. Anton said.
In the course of that theft investigation, authorities learned that Padovano's license to practice as a chiropractor had expired Aug. 31, 2007, and he never renewed it, although all indications are that he was eligible for the renewal, Anton said.
The investigation also revealed that Padovano submitted insurance claims for patients he never treated and for patients he did treat while unlicensed, Anton said.
Blue Cross Blue Shield paid Padovano about $2,400 and Aetna paid him $388 for treatments he provided when he was not licensed, Anton said.
After his license lapsed, Padovano went to work for a chiropractic office in Totowa, and he submitted a forged chiropractic license to his employer, according to the indictment.Meanwhile, one investor gave Padovano $82,000 for a 49 percent interest in his physical therapy business, another victim invested $24,000 for a 20 percent interest, and a couple invested $20,000 for a 20 percent interest, Anton said.
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