Pocono News Section

Pocono Insurance Fraud Investigation

Pocono Insurance Fraud Investigation - Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 5:35PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 @ 05:35pm EST
SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY- A dozen officials from four different agencies spent about six hours going through files at the place in an insurance fraud investigation.

Patients were shocked to see a dozen police and other investigators walk into their doctor's office. Cathleen Edsall of Marshalls Creek said, “I'm frustrated quite honestly. I mean after waiting an entire month to see this doctor which might possibly take a couple weeks."

Cheryl Zohlmann aded, "Basically I don't know what's going on in there. Their computers are all down they're being very evasive about anything what's going on in there."

It turned out to be a raid by the Northeast Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force. Myles Walsh of the task force said, "We were contacted from some former patients about some irregular billing practices from the office here."

The task force investigated Northeast Rehab and Pain Management Center for about a year. They found at least 75 patients were billed for services they never received. Then they arrested one doctor. Matt M. Vegari. He turned himself in. Cathleen Edsall said, "If Dr. Vegari has done something wrong, I know it was not intentional."

Cathleen Edsall has been one of Vegari's patients for about four years. She can't believe he'd do anything inappropriate. Now she and other patients may need to find a new doctor.