Art Fraud: $200K Medicare Scam

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RELATED: Medicare Scam: Arts & Crafts Racket Cost Taxpayers $200K

PHILADELPHIA – Irina Segal, owner of Bucks County’s Segal Arts, LLC, just agreed to cough up $200,000 to settle allegations she bilked Medicare out of money by falsely claiming arts-and-crafts sessions were therapeutic occupational therapy. Federal prosecutors say Segal knowingly submitted bills for one-on-one therapy that never happened, instead running group art classes at assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The feds at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania weren’t buying it. They claim Segal continued the scam after Health and Human Services (HHS) investigators grilled her about what constitutes legitimate occupational therapy billing. Despite the warning, she didn’t refund the Medicare program for the bogus charges.

“This wasn’t about lacking artistic talent, it was a clear attempt to line her pockets at the expense of a program designed to help seniors,” a source close to the investigation told Grimy Times. The settlement is based on Segal’s ability to pay, meaning she could be facing more heat if more details surface.

Maureen Dixon of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) stated the agreement underscores their commitment to safeguarding Medicare funds. This isn’t the first time Grimy Times has reported on operators exploiting the elderly for profit, and it likely won’t be the last.