Chiropractors Sentenced for Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy

A husband-and-wife team from the Chiropractic Family Health Center in Centreville were each recently sentenced to two years probation and eight months home confinement in connection to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Tammy Lee Cashion, 48, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and under the terms of her home confinement will be allowed to work and conduct errands that involve her children or in-laws. She will also have to pay a $10,000 fine, court records show.

Her husband Paul J. Curcio, 47, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit misdemeanor theft and will also pay a $10,000 fine. He can take timeouts from his home confinement for employment and medical appointments for himself and his parents. 

The two must also pay $71,842 in restitution to United Health Care, Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. An additional $39,000 comes from their associate chiropractor. 

that both had conspired with an associate chiropractor, Benjamin Hopsicker, to bill for therapy that was not performed at all, or not performed for long enough to be billable under American Medical Association CPT codes. Curcio had asked Hopsicker to alter his notes to show that he had spent the full eight minutes with each patient that Anthem Blue Cross required, even in cases where he had not spent the full amount of time, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release. They would then bill for the services.

Cashion's attorney, Brian Whisler, said that the family had "provided over 20 years of exceptional service to the community and to their clients," and were thankful for "an outpouring of support" from patients, family and friends. 

"Upon discovery of the conduct at issue in 2009, the Practice promptly imposed voluntary enhanced compliance measures and has solicited the assistance of outside experts to ensure quality control," he said in a written statement to Patch. "With the conclusion of this unfortunate chapter in their lives, Paul and Tammy are looking forward to seeing the needs of patients served at their Practice, while continuing to serve the greater good of their community."