A doctor with offices in Paterson, Passaic and Elizabeth, today admitted defrauding Medicare and private insurance companies out of $3 million by billing for more than 150,000 physical therapy sessions that were performed by unlicensed and unqualified personnel, Acting U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick announced.
Anthony J. Enrico, 60, of North Haledon, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of health care fraud.
According to the documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From January 2007 through May 2016, Enrico billed Medicare and other health insurance providers for physical therapy services that he supposedly provided to his patients. In order for them to be reimbursable, Medicare and private insurers required that physical therapy services be performed only by individuals like Enrico who met certain criteria based on training and certifications.
Enrico admitted that on more than 150,000 occasions, those services were performed at his direction by individuals who lacked the necessary training and certifications, resulting in him fraudulently obtaining approximately $3 million from Medicare and private insurers.
Enrico faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to twice the loss caused by the offense. As part of his plea agreement, Enrico must also pay restitution of $3 million.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2018.