Moon chiropractor allegedly swindles $140,000 from insurers [The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

Sept. 14--The founder of a chiropractic and rehabilitation center in Moon was charged yesterday with bilking insurance companies out of more than $140,000 by submitting bills for services that either were not provided, not necessary or not provided by licensed personnel.

Dr. Daniel T. DiCesaro, 40, of North Fayette, operator of DiCesaro Spine and Sport, which also has offices in North Strabane and on Neville Island, was arraigned on charges of participating in a corrupt organization, insurance fraud and theft by deception. He was released to await a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 25.

DiCesaro is accused of improperly billing the insurance companies of at least 37 student athletes who went to his offices to receive speed and agility training, high-speed treadmill work and weight training, but not treatment to correct medical problems, agents from the state Attorney General's Office said.

A statewide grand jury heard testimony that many of DiCesaro's clients rarely saw a chiropractor and instead were trained by personal trainers.

Nevertheless, the grand jury found that DiCesaro instructed a chiropractor in his employ to submit insurance forms marked for an office visit, gait training, mechanical tractor and therapeutic procedure.

DiCesaro, who is accused of improperly billing the insurance companies from 2006 to 2008, could not be reached for comment.

Witnesses told the grand jury that DiCesaro, a graduate of Seton-La Salle High School and the University of Pittsburgh, did some initial evaluations but rarely assisted in training.

Jason DeRose, a physical education teacher and department chair at Montour School District, developed protocols for fitness and sports training while he worked as a personal trainer for DiCesaro Spine and Sport between October 2006 and December 2007, state investigators said.

DeRose, who was not accused of wrongdoing, brought in many student athletes from high schools who learned about his training services at DiCesaro Spine and Sport through word of mouth, investigators said.

He testified that DiCesaro could be heard at various times telling student athletes that insurance would cover the training to help prepare for a given sport and prevent injury, the grand jury's presentment states.

DeRose, who began working for DiCesaro after the chiropractor purchased equipment from the company that certified him as a physical trainer, testified the chiropractor wanted people to come in for training, at least initially, three times a week.

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