Churchville Chiropractor Charged with Fraud

An Ivyland man stands accused of filing thousands of dollars in fraudulent insurance claims out of his local chiropractic office. 

According to Attorney General Linda Kelly, Howard Bloom, 55, of 8 Lincoln Circle, submitted more than $116,000 in fraudulent medicare claims, many of which originated from his Weather Vane Wellness Center in Churchville. 

According to the criminal complaint, Bloom submitted bogus insurance claims under a billing code that required a doctor to have direct one-on-one contact with a patient.

Instead, Bloom allegedly submitted claims for more than 2,000 treatments which were actually performed by massage therapists, rather than administering the therapies himself.

Bloom allegedly submitted insurance claims on numerous occasions where he claims to have provided between 30 and 47 hours of treatment in a single day.

Additionally, Bloom is accused of adding an individual to the Weather Vane Chiropractic group insurance coverage plan, even though that person was not an employee of the medical practice.

The insurance company paid Bloom and Weather Vane Chiropractic approximately $25,000 for treatments billed on behalf of this "employee" and his family. 
 
Bloom is charged with four counts of insurance fraud, two counts of theft by deception, and one count conspiracy, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

According to Kelly, Weather Vane Wellness Center is charged with identical counts.

Bloom was arraigned before Richboro Magisterial District Judge William Benz and released on $20,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 22 at 2:00 p.m. in Judge Benz's Richboro courtroom.