Nutley Chiropractor Gets 4 Years for Falsifying Medical Claims

A Nutley chiropractor was sentenced to four years in prison for taking more than $89,000 by submitting false documentation to insurance companies, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced Thursday.

Hudson County Superior Court Judge Galis-Menendez sentenced Joseph Salomone, 45, to four years in state prison based on Salomone’s guilty plea to second-degree health care claims fraud.

Salomone’s chiropractic license will be suspended for three years with an additional two years of probation.  Salomone has paid back the $89,283 as well as $75,000 in civil fines levied by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

In pleading guilty on Nov. 4, Salomone admitted he told his employees to falsely complete periodic re-evaluation forms to compel patients to return to the practice whether they needed treatment or not.

“Patients need to have trust that their chiropractors will work in their best interest and not in the interest of perpetuating fraud,” Acting Attorney General Hoffman said. “Salomone violated that trust and has been sentenced accordingly.”

Investigators found that Salomone told his staff to submit the fraudulent documentation to the insurance companies including Allstate Insurance Co., High Point Insurance Co., Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., New Jersey Manufacturer’s Insurance Co. and United States Automobile Association as part of the billing process.

"Today's sentence reiterates the message that committing insurance fraud in New Jersey will lead to prison," Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi said.