Worcester dental office manager pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud
Photo | Courtesy of Google
562 Lincoln St. in Worcester, a former dental office
A Worcester dental office manager has pleaded guilty to participating in a Medicaid fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s office of Massachusetts announced on Tuesday.
Robin Cronin of Worcester was indicted in January 2020 along with Dr. Anthony DiStefano III and Dr. Scott Cale, Worcester dentists, and accused of participating in a Medicaid fraud scheme. Both Cale and DiStefano have pleaded not guilty, according to the Justice Department.
On Tuesday, Cronin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and one count of healthcare fraud. Cronin is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 21.
The charges can carry up to a 10-year prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
In the 2020 indictment, the DOJ alleged services DiStefano delivered were billed to MassHealth using Cale’s provider credentials in order to deceive MassHealth into paying for services which were not reimbursable. DiStefano, the DOJ said, had been terminated from MassHealth as a provider because of concerns related to the quality of care he provided.
Cale was accused of paying DiStefano a portion of the money he consequently received from MassHealth. Cronin allegedly knew about the arrangement and personally billed MassHealth for the false claims, according to the DOJ.
DiStefano sold his dental office building in Worcester’s Lincoln Plaza for $450,000 earlier this year.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments