Massachusetts Cracks Down on Chiro Ring

Brothers Charles, 41, and Sean Nisivoccia, 37, and their associate Craig Klein, 41, all admitted that the allegations of staging car accidents and falsifying injury claims to insurance companies, while operating as Health Group of New England, were true. According to Essex County Prosecutors, this was a way of life for them over the past several years when they moved their practice to Lawrence, Massachusetts from New Jersey. The three chiropractors must have thought they were on Easy Street while billing insurance carriers almost $400,000 in their first year of business for the staged accidents.

According to the Eagle-Tribune each man received 90 days in custody after pleading guilty to filing false motor vehicle claims and conspiracy. The three were spared the much harsher sentences recommended by Assistant District Attorney, James Gubitose. Before the plea agreement, the brothers were facing up to 5 years in prison because of the well-built case the prosecutors had against them.

“They came up here essentially to prey on the commonwealth,” said Essex Assistant District Attorney James Gubitose, in seeking sentences of three years in state prison for each defendant.

“They saw easy money and they made easy money. … They provided a market place for dangerous activity that was going on,” Gubitose said, noting that Health Group of New England established itself as the seventh-largest biller out of 21 chiropractic or physical therapy clinics in Lawrence.

Apparently Charles Nisivoccia and Klein were also indicted in Clifton, New Jersey for paying a runner to refer patients to their NJ office. They were fined $25,000 each and allowed to continue their practice as well as keep their licenses.

Apparently the only lesson the two learned was to move the scheme to a different location and try their luck in Massachusetts. Fortunately, while the three were busy cracking backs, the Essex County authorities were busy cracking the ring. While my obvious play on words is meant in jest, rings like this are no laughing matter and cause everyone’s insurance premiums to go up. Nice work by the Essex County Authorities and chalk one up for the good guys.